Rézola: “Sport has sparked huge interest among our people” | OneFootball

The Olympic athlete from Santa Fe toured the Fan Fest at Parque del Sur, took part in an initiative linking science and sport, and highlighted the presence of children and families at the Santa Fe 2026 activities. He also praised the infrastructure that will remain as a legacy after the Games.

The XIII South American Games Santa Fe 2026 are being experienced both inside and outside the sports venues. The Fan Fest events bring the occasion closer to the community with recreational, cultural, scientific, and sports activities for children, families, and visitors.

This Wednesday, at Parque del Sur in Santa Fe, Olympic athlete Rubén Rézola took part in “The Formula of Encounter: Science and High-Performance Sport”, a provincial government initiative aimed at bringing the public closer to the connection between knowledge, technology, and athletic preparation.

For Rézola, the activity had a personal element because of its proximity to Club Náutico El Quillá, where he began his journey in canoeing. “I’m at Parque del Sur, next to El Quillá, which is the club where I grew up, where I learned to paddle. Every place I go brings different emotions,” he said.

“They’re all playing, they’re all having fun”

Rézola highlighted the turnout generated by the Games: “The Fan Fest is insane, so many people. Sport has sparked a lot of interest among our people.”

He also emphasized the participation of younger children: “That’s what impressed me: they’re all playing in the Capi Plaza, they’re all having fun. There are a lot of kids watching the different activities, and that helps them start to soak up a little more of what sport is all about.”

“For the Province to have the chance to host an event as important as this and to be able to spread it across different areas so that everyone can take part and see the different activities and sports is something really crazy and really great,” he added.

The Fan Fest events combine music, gastronomy, sports experiences, technology, science outreach, and family-friendly activities, expanding the Santa Fe 2026 experience beyond the competitions.

Science and sport at Parque del Sur

As part of that program, the Province’s Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation is developing “The Formula of Encounter,” a series that showcases the contribution of science and technology to high-performance sport.

Rézola joined a canoeing panel alongside Marilina Carena, PhD in Mathematics, professor at FICH-UNL and researcher at Conicet; and Matías Solaro, a physical training specialist and representative of Ivolution. The activity was moderated by Bárbara Bercovich, provincial director of Special Projects.

The initiative also held events in Rosario focused on the application of mathematics to soccer and of different technologies to beach volleyball.

A legacy Rézola can already experience

The Olympic athlete also highlighted the infrastructure developed for the disciplines and the new conditions for canoeing and rowing in Santa Fe, including the addition of automatic starting systems.

“They’re the first in the history of our country. When I competed in the 200 meters, having automatic starters was essential, and I only saw them abroad, in Europe. Being able to have them and use them today while I’m still an active athlete is a privilege,” he said.

Finally, Rézola focused on what will remain after the event: “This legacy will remain for many years to come, and hopefully it will keep growing and investment in sport will continue to grow even more.”

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