After previously pulling out of the World U20 Championships in Lima, Peru due to concerns about safety and travel advisories, the United States Track and Field (USATF) has announced that it will be sending a team to participate in the event. The change of heart came after consulting with World Athletics and the Local Organizing Committee in Lima, who assured USATF that safety measures would be in place for the event.
The championships are set to take place from August 26-31, 2024, and USATF will be fielding a team to represent Team USA. This decision comes just a month after USATF initially decided not to participate in the event due to concerns about travel advisories and competitive readiness. However, USATF has committed to providing its athletes with the highest level of competitive opportunities on their journey to gold.
This is not the first time the United States has had to withdraw from international athletic events due to safety concerns. In 2021, Team USA decided not to participate in the World U20 Championships held in Nairobi, Kenya due to COVID-related safety concerns. However, USATF will have the opportunity to host the 2026 World U20 Championships when the competition takes place at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.