Pullaro launches Copa Santa Fe, eyes national 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, consolidating itself as one of the most important subnational tournaments in the country. The governor also highlighted the boost the Province is giving to the South American Games, which will be held 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 Copa Santa Fe. 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 sporting life of the province. He emphasized that promoting sports is part of a comprehensive public policy strategy. 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. “A short time ago, the province had the highest rates of violence and homicides in the country. This Government made the political decision to confront criminal organizations firmly, but we also understood that this was not enough. That’s why we promoted policies that reach neighborhoods with urban development, 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 girls, boys, and adolescents. In this context, he highlighted the role of the Copa Santa Fe as a tool for integration and sports development. “It is essential that boys and girls can practice sports in healthy environments. This Copa Santa Fe 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 of Education, José Goity; and the executive vice president of the Santa Fe Lottery, Daniel Di Lena, among other authorities.

On the Road to the South American Games

Pullaro also linked the growth of sports in Santa Fe with the organization of the 2026 South American Games, which will be held in September in various cities of the province. “Twenty years from now 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: small stadiums, arenas, and athletics tracks so that our athletes can compete in the best conditions,” he stated. The governor assured that the Province will maintain investment in sports despite the national economic context. “We will make every necessary effort so that kids return to clubs and find there a space for development and support. Our dream is for Santa Fe to become the national capital of sports,” he said. 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 experienced 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. For his part, the president of the Santa Fe Athletics Federation, Alberto Scarpín, celebrated the expansion of the tournament and highlighted that many disciplines that for years had not been included are now part of the competition. “For many sports, this cup was a dream. Today that has changed and we are very grateful because this is a very important initiative for sports development,” he stated. Finally, the provincial padel representative, Daniel Retamar, celebrated “the inclusion of padel as a new sport. Over time—40 years—we have achieved the recognition this sport deserves and we will do everything necessary to make this as successful as possible.”

A Platform for Sports in Santa Fe

The tournament thus consolidates itself as a platform to strengthen sports in Santa Fe and boost the participation of clubs and athletes from across the region. To traditional sports such as 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.