Peru withdraws as host of U-20 World Athletics Championships

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People walk in a street full of mud following Cyclone Yaku in Lima, Peru, March 15, 2023. REUTERS/Sebastian Castaneda

Peru was hit by torrential rains during Cyclone Yaku, which buried houses and cars in mud and killed at least six people.

PHOTO: REUTERS

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LIMA - Peru has pulled out of hosting next year’s under-20 athletics World Championships after political instability and social unrest, as well as natural disasters left the country unable to stage the event, World Athletics said on Wednesday.

Peru’s northern region was hit by torrential rains last month

during Cyclone Yaku,

which buried houses and cars in mud and

killed at least six people.

The championships were due to be held in Lima from Aug 26-31.

“We would like to thank the Peruvian Federation and the local organising committee for the time and effort they have already put into this event,” World Athletics, who will look for a replacement host, said in a statement.

Football’s global governing body Fifa also announced this week that it had stripped the South American country of hosting rights for

failing to meet infrastructure commitments

ahead of the U-17 World Cup. REUTERS

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