Germán Chiaraviglio: “2026 Games will transform Santa Fe sport” | OneFootball

The former pole vaulter and athletics ambassador highlighted the impact the continental event will have on the province and said the new infrastructure will allow more boys and girls to get involved in sports.

Athletics will be one of the standout disciplines at the Santa Fe 2026 South American Games and will take place at the renovated track of the High Performance Sports Center (CARD) in the city of Santa Fe. The continent’s top specialists will compete there in an event that, in addition to awarding spots for the 2027 Pan American Games, will mark the beginning of the road to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

From September 12 to 26, the cities of Santa Fe, Rosario, and Rafaela will welcome more than 4,000 athletes from 15 countries for the most important sporting event in the province’s history.

For Germán Chiaraviglio, a historic figure in Argentine athletics and an ambassador for Santa Fe 2026, hosting the Games represents a historic opportunity for the province, both because of the level of competition it will bring together and the legacy it will leave once the event is over.

An international-level venue

According to the official schedule, the athletics events will take place from September 22 to 26 at the CARD. Among them will be the pole vault, the discipline in which Chiaraviglio was one of the continent’s leading figures.

“The best athletes in South America are coming, many of them with world-class and Pan American-level experience. These Games are hugely important because they are qualifiers for next year’s Pan American Games and represent the first major step toward the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles,” he explained.

He also highlighted the quality of the new facilities: “I’m in contact with many of the best athletes in South America, and they all want to come. The track is going to be incredible, world-class, and that also helps ensure the best possible athletic performances.”

The legacy Santa Fe will keep

For Chiaraviglio, the biggest impact of the Games will not be limited to the competition itself. “I believe these Games will mark a before and after. We’re going to enjoy them during those two weeks, but afterward a top-level infrastructure will remain for future generations,” he said.

The former athlete stressed that the works will help raise the level of athletics in Santa Fe and attract new national and international competitions.

“Future generations will be able to train here with their clubs, schools, or federations. I’m convinced that after the Games, many other major events will come because Santa Fe will have first-rate facilities,” he said.

He also spoke about the personal meaning of having the competition held in his city: “All my life I had to travel very far to take part in tournaments of this level. Being able to experience a competition like this now in Santa Fe, the place where I grew up, is truly exciting.”

A spectacular discipline

Asked about pole vaulting, Chiaraviglio explained that it is one of the most complex and attractive events in athletics. “The goal is to clear a bar using a pole, but what makes this discipline special is how spectacular it is. It’s the closest thing to flying,” he said.

Finally, the ambassador invited the people of Santa Fe to come to the CARD during the Games.

“I’d tell them not to miss the opportunity to come. They’ll find infrastructure that is not common in our country and the best athletes in South America competing at the highest level. Athletics is a spectacle because many events take place at the same time, like a great sports festival. I invite families, kids, and everyone in Santa Fe to experience this because it will truly surprise them,”

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