PASO delegates and the media identified a number of factors in its favor, including the size of the country, safety, experience in staging multi sporting events, government guarantees, security, and cleanliness.

[1] Moreover, the head of Lima's bid Ricardo Mungi even admitted Toronto was the best choice as they had the facilities and budget to stage the games.

On November 6, 2009 in Guadalajara, Mexico, the candidate cities made their final presentations to the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO).

[14] President of Peru Alan Garcia was enthusiastically pushing for upgraded sports infrastructure and athlete training.

[16] Authorities announced plans for construction of new sport facilities and the remodeling of existing ones, such as the 45,000 seat Estadio Nacional,[17] which recently hosted the Copa América 2004.

The capital city of Colombia coincided its announcement of candidacy at the 2007 Pan Am Games in Rio de Janeiro.

With a budget of $950 million if the bid was successful,[18] Bogota was touting its ideal year-round spring-like weather and its central geographical position in the Americas.

[18] Mayor Samuel Moreno Rojas also touted other cultural and sporting attractions in the city, which include over 50 museums and 313 km (194 mi).

[18] This capital city hosted the 1983 Pan American Games and already has the Estadio Olímpico de la UCV in place.

[19] On October 10 Caracas dropped out of the race without comment;[20] PASO sources suggest they withdrew to avoid splitting the vote among three South American candidates.

If San Jose was successful, it would have become the first city to stage the Pan American Games in Central America.