The design of the so-called "Pan American plane", belonging to the airline Latam, was unveiled with a cinematographic presentation, which included the opening of a hangar at the Pudahuel airport. The airplane will carry the brand and the official mascot of the Games to different parts of the Americas and will soon make a special trip.
This is the transfer of the Pan American and Parapan American torches from the ruins of Teotihuacan, on the outskirts of Mexico City, where the traditional lighting ceremony will be held on September 29th. The following day, they will be in the country to begin a tour of 21 cities including Arica, Punta Arenas, and Rapa Nui.
The event was attended by the Minister of the General Secretariat of the Presidency, Camila Vallejo, who emphasized that this journey "will enable us to kindle a shared flame within us all, the flame of intercultural encounters, with a focus not solely on sports but also on its underlying values, especially in times when enhancing our collective life is crucial."
Meanwhile, the president of Panam Sports, Neven Ilic, highlighted the participation of one of the continent's most important airlines. "We feel that they give us very strong support, LATAM is a very Chilean company and the fact that they have decided to accompany us on this trip, so important for all of us, has been a sign of support that we really appreciate," he said.
LATAM's Boeing 787-8 is the official aircraft of the Pan American and Parapan American Games (picture by: Sergio Maureira/Santiago 2023).
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The runway of the air terminal also received several Team Chile athletes, who will enjoy travel benefits thanks to an agreement signed at the same ceremony, and they also took a tour of the official airplane of the Games. The event was attended by beach volleyball players Marco and Esteban Grimalt, handball player Alicia Torres, disc volleyball player Lucas Nervi, hockey player Denise Rojas, indoor volleyball player Dusan Bonacic, and Para swimmer Vicente Almonacid.
"We've been aware of the Games for quite a few years, and I believe that all of us athletes who will be participating share a similar level of readiness and eagerness. We're fully aware of the challenges ahead. Our greatest anxiety comes from anticipating the crowd and being able to translate their support into doing what we do to the best of our abilities” summarized Nervi.
Ignacio Cueto, Chair of the Board of LATAM Airlines Group, said that "we are very pleased to be able to put our connectivity at the service of thousands of athletes from more than 40 countries who will participate in this great sporting event. LATAM is proud to be able to carry the colors of the Pan American Games around the world and, like these Games, to continue to contribute to the unity of our region."
The Pan American and Parapan American Games will be hosted in the country from October 20th to November 26th and will bring together, for the first time in Chile, more than 9,000 athletes from 41 nations to compete in 60 conventional and 18 adapted disciplines.
A large delegation with Team Chile and Para Chile figures arrived in Pudahuel to participate in the launching of the airplane that will bring the torches for both events from Mexico (picture by: Simón Blaise O. / Aero-Naves).
