Noon on Thursday, August 31st. Under a sun that blazed at times, but with spring wind and greenness in the environment, about twenty representatives of Team Chile led by the national flag bearer, Esteban Grimalt, were the protagonists of a catwalk show in the middle of Parque Araucano in Las Condes.
The reason? The Chilean Olympic Committee (COCh) officially presented the uniforms that the athletes will wear during the Pan American Games. The clothing was designed together by New Balance and the athletes themselves, meeting their needs and requirements in terms of comfort and texture.
Throughout the day, stars such as Valentina Toro and Rodrigo Rojas (karate), David Alarcón (fencing), Ignacio Varas (gymnastics), Fernanda Aguirre (taekwondo), Rocío Muñoz (long jump), and Javiera Contreras (pole vault) were the main protagonists in the middle of the catwalk under the gaze of the audience.
Positive comments about the equipment didn't take long to emerge. The athletes were happy with the clothing they’ll be wearing during the continental sport's top event.
The fencer specialized in foil, David Alarcón, commented that “I've had the pleasure of trying on several Team Chile uniforms in the past. This one didn't disappoint, it's very good. It's very comfortable and when I had it on I imagined myself carrying it around, ready to win the medal.”
Meanwhile, field hockey Diablo (the Devil), Nils Strabucchi, centered his words on the honor of representing the country internationally, indicating that “it’s always an honor to wear the Chilean uniform. The clothing was very good, of great quality, and very comfortable.”
Valentina Toro, karate woman, and Estrban Grimalt, beach volley player and flag bearer, with the brand news Team Chile uniforms. (Picture: Santiago 2023).
THE UNIFORMS AND THE FINAL STRETCH TOWARDS SANTIAGO 2023
The presentation of these uniforms represents a new and important milestone on the journey to the Games, just 50 days before the start of the most important multisport event in the history of our country.
Also present at the ceremony were Chile's most important sports authorities, including Harold Mayne-Nicholls, Chief Executive Officer of Santiago 2023; Jaime Pizarro, Sports Minister; Miguel Angel Mujica, President of the COCh; and Claudio Orrego, Santiago Metropolitan Region Governor and Chief Officer of the Santiago 2023 Corporation, among others.
Mayne-Nicholls said that “the clothes are spectacular, the runway show and the design were marvelous. Our athletes, and all of us in fact, are getting closer to the Games, but they’re surely already feeling the tingling sensation of representing the country in the best clothes.”
Miguel Ángel Mujica added that ”we’re very happy because the people in charge were kind enough to ask each athlete what their requirements were. We didn't want a design that wasn't in accordance with the athletes' needs.”
Written by: Carlos Ramírez Salazar.
