Carlos Ferrea on Santa Fe 2026: “Not just medals, records set” | OneFootball

Argentina’s Head of Mission highlighted the support of the public, the athletes’ emotions, the quality of the new venues, and the legacy the Games left in Santa Fe.

After several days of competition, Carlos Ferrea, Argentina’s Head of Mission, took stock in a way that went far beyond the results. From Rosario, he highlighted how the Santa Fe 2026 South American Games were experienced at the venues, with packed stands, families showing their support, and athletes enjoying competing in their own country.

“The overall assessment is very positive. We’re truly happy to be here in Santa Fe, especially in Rosario,” Ferrea said. According to him, the results achieved by the Argentine delegation were matched by the support of a public that filled the stadiums and turned each day into a true celebration.

Athletes, families, and packed stands

For the Head of Mission, one of the images that best captured the spirit of these Games was the presence of the public at the venues. He also praised the decision to bring in schools and clubs so they could discover different sports and take part in the competition days.

Ferrea said he had been able to witness some of those moments up close. He mentioned the emotion of an Argentine representative who celebrated a medal with her family, as well as a swimming event in which an athlete from Santa Fe won a medal surrounded by a large group from her club.

“There’s a joy that comes through, and I think it’s magical. All of us Argentine athletes are enjoying having Games in Argentina,” he said.

That perspective also led him to put the medal table in context. For Ferrea, medals were only one part of everything that should be considered in a competition of this kind. Records, marks, improved times, and each athlete’s growth were also part of the results.

“Each federation, each athlete, each parent who offers support is truly a sponsor of Argentine sport,” he said. And he stressed that behind every participation there was a collective effort that often was not reflected in the standings.

A legacy that remains after the Games Ferrea also highlighted the quality of the sports venues that had been built and renovated in the province. He made special mention of the Provincial Aquatic Center, the arenas, and the new velodrome in Rafaela, as well as the villages built in Rosario, Santa Fe, and Rafaela.

For the official, all of that infrastructure represented one of the great legacies of Santa Fe 2026. “Honestly, today I can say with complete certainty that we have the best cycling track here in Santa Fe, in Rafaela,” he said, noting that the sports facilities were of Olympic standard.

But among all the memories of his time at the Games, there was one Ferrea singled out in particular: the opening ceremony in Rosario. With a career linked to the Olympic movement for decades, he said it was “one of the best” he had ever experienced.

“We cried, we sang, we laughed, and we even danced,” he recalled about that night. For Ferrea, the ceremony managed to bring together sport and culture while keeping the athlete at the center, a combination that had also been recognized by other Heads of Mission.

In taking stock, the official extended his recognition to all the people who made Argentina’s participation possible: technical teams, support staff, federations, clubs, families, and those who worked at each of the venues. The goal, he explained, was for the athletes to be able to arrive, compete, and focus on what mattered most: “for the athlete to come, compete, and have everything taken care of so they can devote themselves solely to the competition.”

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.