35,000 fans in Rosario kick off countdown to 2026 South American Games | OneFootball

They celebrated outdoors with Capi, the official mascot, at a festival that combined music, sports, and enthusiasm for the international event that will arrive next year in the province. "We are starting the path to a competition that will leave us a legacy in infrastructure like no other place in Argentina," agreed Governor Pullaro and Vice Governor Scaglia.

The countdown has already begun. With 344 days to go, the province of Santa Fe is gearing up for the 2026 South American Games. This Friday night, the Parque a la Bandera turned into a party: lights, music, and excitement accompanied the presentation of Capi, the official mascot who will be the great host of a historic event with 15 countries and more than 4,000 athletes competing in the three venues: Rosario, Santa Fe, and Rafaela. With free admission, thousands of families, young people, and tourists joined a display that united music, sports, and celebration: DJ Carrion, Sofi Gazzaniga, Bhavi, Estelares, and a Bresh Party thrilled the more than 35,000 attendees on the Rosario night, with the Paraná River and the illuminated Monument as a natural backdrop.

A legacy that transcends us

During the live broadcast of the event, which could be followed through the YouTube channel of the Provincial Government, Governor Maximiliano Pullaro emphasized that hosting involves a great investment, but that "it is worth it because sports convey principles and values that will remain for future generations." He highlighted that the resources allocated to stadiums, micro-stadiums, and urban works are a milestone made possible by the organization of provincial accounts, and that the Games will leave a legacy that will transcend governments and mark Santa Fe for the coming decades. "Today the ball starts rolling that will lead us to experience one of the greatest moments in the sporting history of the province," he expressed.

Meanwhile, Vice Governor Gisela Scaglia highlighted that the competition will mark a before and after for the province, not only because of the arrival of thousands of visitors and the possibility for many people from Santa Fe to shine with medals, but also because of the legacy in infrastructure: "Sports heal, save, and teach values of effort, perseverance, and teamwork. It is key to continue opening opportunities for boys and girls who find a path of life there and spread enthusiasm to new generations," she noted.

Ambassadors of values

Before the shows, the six ambassadors of the South American Games, all prominent figures, took the stage, bringing emotion and memories of their participation in competitions: Guillermo "El Mago" Coria (tennis) spoke of inspiration for the younger ones and congratulated "the governor and the vice governor, along with all the people who make a great effort in the three host cities." Cecilia Carranza (sailing) celebrated the union between sports and culture, Rubén Rézola (canoeing) was excited about the audience that will come; and Etel Sánchez (synchronized swimming), with the idea of sharing in her city "with those who saw me grow with my sister, strive and compete in international tournaments." Ayelén Stepnik recalled the 25 years since the Olympic medal won in Sydney that attracted boys and girls to practice hockey, and swimmer Federico Grabich said that "the people of Santa Fe have to be grateful for everything the Games will bring us and what they will leave in the three cities."

2026 South American Games

The South American Games will take place from September 12 to 26 next year. Athletes will compete in 57 disciplines representing Argentina, Aruba, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Curaçao, Ecuador, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela. For this event, the Provincial Government's investment in infrastructure amounts to 90 million dollars and aims to leave a long-term urban and sports legacy. The projected, tendered, and mostly already under construction works include the Multispace Arena at the Fairgrounds, the Micro-stadium at Parque Independencia, the Provincial Aquatic Center, and the Paseo XXI Roof in Rosario; the Multipurpose Stadium at the High-Performance Sports Center (CARD) and the CARD Athletics Track in Santa Fe; the Shooting Sports Center in Recreo; and the Multipurpose Stadium District Joven, the Covered Velodrome, and the Regional Park Sports Area in Rafaela. Additionally, in the three cities, Sports Villages are being built, with a capacity of more than 3,500 beds.

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