Pullaro launches Copa Santa Fe, eyes sports capital status | OneFootball

The governor presented the 2026 edition of the provincial tournament, which will include padel, fishing, and chess. With these disciplines, it will reach 14 sports and 20 modalities, establishing itself as one of the most important subnational tournaments in the country. The governor also emphasized the boost the Province is giving to the South American Games, which will take place in six months in Santa Fe territory.

The governor of Santa Fe, Maximiliano Pullaro, presented this Wednesday at noon, in the White Hall of the Government headquarters in Rosario, a new edition of the Santa Fe Cup. This year, the competition will add three new disciplines—padel, fishing, and chess—thus reaching a total of 14 sports and 20 modalities, expanding its reach throughout the provincial territory. During the event, the governor highlighted the sustained growth of the tournament and its impact on the province's sports life. He emphasized that promoting sports is part of a comprehensive strategy of public policies. In this regard, he recalled that Santa Fe went through complex years in terms of security and that the Provincial Government decided to address this issue with a combination of firm measures against crime and social prevention policies.

"Not long ago, the province had the highest rates of violence and homicides in the country. This Government made the political decision to firmly confront criminal organizations, but we also understood that this was not enough. That's why we promote policies that reach neighborhoods with urbanization, schools, and also with sports," he stated.

Comprehensive Public Policies

The governor emphasized that the promotion of sports is part of a public policy aimed at creating healthy environments for children and adolescents. In this context, he highlighted the role of the Santa Fe Cup as a tool for integration and sports development. "It is essential that boys and girls can practice sports in healthy environments. This Santa Fe Cup can be the engine we need for many young people in the province to massively turn to sports," he affirmed.

Accompanying the governor at the presentation were national deputy Gisela Scaglia; the president of the Chamber of Deputies, Clara García; the ministers of Equality and Human Development, Victoria Tejeda; and Education, José Goity, and the executive vice president of the Santa Fe Lottery, Daniel Di Lena, among other authorities.

Path to the South American Games

Pullaro also linked the growth of Santa Fe sports with the organization of the 2026 South American Games, which will be held in September in various cities of the province. "In twenty years, we will still be talking about what will happen in September 2026 in Santa Fe. We are investing nearly 90 million dollars in sports infrastructure: micro-stadiums, stadiums, and athletics tracks so that our athletes can compete in the best conditions," he affirmed.

The governor assured that the Province will maintain investment in sports despite the national economic context. "We will make every effort necessary for children to return to clubs and find a space for training and support there. Our dream is for Santa Fe to be the national capital of sports," he stated.

The executive vice president of the Santa Fe Lottery, Daniel Di Lena, welcomed "clubs, athletes, associations, unions, and federations" and highlighted the growth the tournament has had since its creation. Di Lena also emphasized the economic contribution that the provincial Lottery makes to sports development. According to him, last year more than 2.5 billion pesos were allocated to the Provincial Sports Fund.

In turn, the president of the Santa Fe Athletics Federation, Alberto Scarpín, celebrated the expansion of the tournament and highlighted that many disciplines that had not been included for years are now part of the competition. "For many sports, this cup was a dream. Today that has changed, and we are very grateful because it is a very important initiative for sports development," he affirmed.

Finally, the provincial padel representative, Daniel Retamar, celebrated "the incorporation of padel as a new sport. Over time—40 years—we have received the recognition this sport deserves, and we will do everything necessary to make this as successful as possible."

A Platform for Santa Fe Sports

The tournament thus consolidates itself as a platform to strengthen Santa Fe sports and enhance the participation of clubs and athletes from across the region. In addition to traditional sports like football, basketball, hockey, volleyball, rugby, handball, cycling, swimming, golf, athletics, and triathlon, padel, fishing, and chess are now added, expanding the federal and inclusive profile of a competition that continues to grow year after year.

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