Cali in Colombia and Santa Ana in El Salvador were visited by the Panam Sports Evaluation Commission in a week-long inspection of two of the three candidates for the Games.

Monterrey in Mexico is also in contention to stage the Games, having submitted a bid by the deadline of January 31.

Panam Sports secretary general Ivar Sisniega led the Evaluation Commission visits with an assessment of Monterrey's candidacy due to take place next month.

Cali and the Valle del Cauca was visited from February 18 to 20, with Colombian Olympic Committee (COC) President Baltazar Medina on hand to outline their proposal.

The city previously hosted the 1971 Pan American Games and has become known as Colombia's sports capital, having hosted several World Championships and the World Games in 2013.

The COC claim the Junior Pan American Games would utilise their vast sports infrastructure.

A venue tour included trips to the Alcides Nieto Patiño Velodrome and Hernando Botero O'Byrne Pools, which were used for the Pan American Games in 1971.

Panam Sports also visited the Pascual Guerrero Olympic Stadium, which holds 42,000 people and would host the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Junior Pan Am Games.

The Evaluation Commission then travelled to El Salvador for a two-day visit to Santa Ana from February 21 to 22.

The El Salvador Olympic Committee and the city hope staging the Junior Pan Am Games would aid Santa Ana's development.

It is claimed their candidacy focuses on the culture of the city while placing the majority of venues within the existing school or university campuses.

Panam Sports asserted that much work is needed in order to prepare the city to welcome thousands of athletes from 41 countries.

However, the organisation cited the potential opportunity in developing the city's sports infrastructure and benefiting its people.

"What we've found in El Salvador is a group that's very enthusiastic with the support of the city and the support of the Olympic Committee, and a desire to transform Santa Ana through hosting the Junior Pan American Games," Sisniega said.

"It's clear that these are Games that could boost sport in El Salvador and could strengthen this region of the country.

"But there is also the challenge of needing to build more infrastructure that is currently not here, and we recognise this as one of the challenges of organising Games in Santa Ana but they have shown a great desire to host these Games.

"What we found in Cali is a very solid candidature that's well structured with very complete infrastructure.

"And what we've found in El Salvador is a group that's very enthusiastic with the support of the city and the support of the Olympic Committee, and a desire to transform Santa Ana through hosting the Junior Pan American Games.

"We are impressed with both candidatures and still look forward to reviewing the project from Monterrey in more detail, but I can say that that we have chosen competitive cities as the potential hosts of these first Junior Pan American Games in history."

The Junior Pan American Games will be for athletes aged between 18 and 21.

In an attempt to provide young athletes with more opportunities to qualify for high-level international competitions, the winner of each discipline will automatically earn a place at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago.

Panam Sports believe the event would cost between $20 million (£15 million/€17 million) to $30 million (£23 million/€25 million) for the host city, roughly a tenth of the cost of the Pan American Games.

To keep costs down, the host city would use facilities that are already in place and the organisers would fund 50 flight tickets for each of the competing nations.

The Panam Sports Evaluation Commission consisted of 10 members, including Puerto Rico Olympic Committee President and Panam Sports Executive Committee member Sara Rosario.

Eduardo Alvarez and Brian Lewis, Presidents of the Venezuelan and the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committees respectively, were also present.

Paraguay Olympic Committee secretary general Juan Carlos Orihuela, Canadian Olympic Committee chief sports officer Eric Myles and Panam Sports Athlete Commission member Carlos Santiago were also included on the delegation, along with Panam Sports staff members Mario Cilenti, Ana Paula Gonzalez and Kevin Nutley.

"We have two different circumstances," said Santiago, following the visits.

"With the bid in Santa Ana, it's apparent that the community would love to receive these Games but the facilities are less developed.

"And in Cali, yes there was also a feeling that the community wanted these Games but it would also be a continuation of their development because we saw a lot of people practicing sport and there's a very developed culture of sport there."

Following next month's visit to Monterrey, a thorough review of all three proposals for the Games will take place.

The Panam Sports Executive Committee will then choose the host city for the Games at its meeting scheduled for March 27 to 28 in San Jose, Costa Rica.