Fernando Maletti: «Our facilities now rival the world's best» | OneFootball

On the third day of competition at the South American GamesSanta Fe 2026, the Province’s Secretary of Sports, Fernando Maletti, highlighted the leap in quality the region is experiencing. Speaking with the program ADN on Radio Gol 96.7, the official praised the excellence of the venues built in record time, the social impact of the urban development around the host sites, and the strong showing of the Argentine delegation in the medal table.

The province of Santa Fe is in the continental sports spotlight with the staging of the Santa Fe 2026 South American Games. With events spread across the three hubs (Rosario, Rafaela, and the city of Santa Fe), the public response and the quality of the venues have exceeded initial expectations.

The provincial Sports director, FernandoMaletti, reviewed his itinerary after accompanying the different disciplines: “We started on Sunday in Rosario with swimming, gymnastics, and fencing; then we were in Venado Tuerto supporting cycling, and yesterday in Rafaela we had the joy of seeing Fernando Contreras win the gold medal in Mountain Bike, in addition to watching boxing and BMX Freestyle.”

Olympic- and technology-grade infrastructure

One of the highlights of these Games is the material legacy that will remain for Argentine athletes. Maletti emphasized the international praise the new venues have received:

“The Public Works team did a spectacular job in a record construction time of 14 months. We planned venues with official international standards so they will last into the future and not be just something temporary,” he explained.

Urban transformation, FanFest, and “buzz” around the merchandise

Beyond the strictly sporting side, Maletti stressed that the Games have brought about a deep social and urban transformation in the cities. “In Rosario, the southern area was upgraded alongside the aquatic center and the village; in Rafaela, the multipurpose stadium and velodrome were built. The Games force you to raise the bar, and they change residents’ quality of life,” he said.

The success is also reflected in the cultural and tourism offerings. With free shows at the FanFest events, the official celebrated the large crowds, who have already downloaded nearly half a million QR codes for entry. He also revealed a telling detail that shows people’s enthusiasm: the official “Capi” plush toys (the event mascot) completely sold out at the merchandising stands, so a new production run is already being planned.

Support for Santa Fe athletes and the dream of the podium

Lastly, the sports director highlighted the Provincial Government’s policy of supporting its homegrown representatives: “We supported Santa Fe athletes with a prior scholarship of 3 million pesos each so they could complete their preparation in the best possible way. We want to stand by them before hanging a medal around their necks.”

Regarding the overall performance, Maletti was highly optimistic about the national delegation’s results: “Argentina’s goal is to finish on the podium. Right now we are two medals ahead of Colombia. We know Brazil’s potential, but competing in your own country with the support of 1,500 people in a stadium gives you an enormous extra boost that comes from the heart.”

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