The Parapan American Games 2023 began to take shape after the first Coordinating Commission in which the IPC (International Paralympic Committee), the APC (Americas Paralympic Committee), the Santiago 2023 Corporation, the Ministry of Sport, the Paralympic Committee of Chile (Copachi), the IND (National Institute of Sports) and the National Disability Service (Senadis) participated. The event took place over two days at the Icon Hotel in Santiago, with an intense agenda of knowledge transfer on the organization of international Paralympic sporting events topic.
The host of the seminar was Felipe De Pablo, executive director of Santiago 2023, and the IPC team that visited Chile, led by Jürgen Padberg, and the APC, led by Aimée Poyo.
In total, there were 19 work sessions, with a fruitful exchange of information between the Santiago 2023 team, Copachi, and representatives of IPC and APC. During the two coordination days, a wide variety of topics were discussed, such as the vision of the Para Pan American Games 2023; the foundations of the Paralympic Movement; the legal and organizational structure of the Corporation; the learning of Lima 2019; relations with the Americas Paralympic Committee; the first analysis of the sports that will be part of the program; analysis of the classification systems of athletes; security and accessibility measures, as well as the legacy that this sports mega-event will leave to Chile.
At its opening, Felipe de Pablo read a few words from the Minister of Sports Cecilia Pérez, reiterating the government's full commitment to holding these Pan American and Para Pan American Games to be held in Santiago in 2023, and the priority they have on the agenda of this administration. "Our heart, work plan, works and priorities consider Santiago 2023 to be a historic sports festival, with a vision and a great social mark," said the minister, who also expressed her aspiration to carry out an inclusive and sustainable sports mega-event.
The executive director of Santiago 2023 also provided an overview of the eloquent development of Chilean Paralympic sport in the last two decades, in the hands of Copachi and the Ministry of Sports.
Jürgen Padberg, sports manager and leader of the Para Pan American Games project by IPC, highlighted the importance of this first working meeting with the Santiago 2023 team, in order to begin to outline the roadmap to the sports mega-event. "We are here to offer our advice and experience, but also to know your aspirations, your plans and your concerns," said the IPC director. “We all have the same goal: to create the best conditions so that athletes from the Americas can come here in 2023 and thrill the public with unforgettable performances. I am convinced that we will succeed, ”said Padberg.
An important visit was also made to the National Stadium Sports Park, the venue planned as the central venue for the Para Pan American Games 2023, which was led by Ernesto Urdangarín, the head of the Sports Infrastructure Division of the Ministry of Education, and by Sofía Rengifo, Deputy Director of the IND.
The delegation, which included Ileana Rodríguez, an APC accessibility specialist, toured the National Central Coliseum, the Aquatic Center and learned about the plans for the next Paralympic Training Center.
The meetings of the Coordinating Commission of the Para Pan American Games of 2023 will be replicated in time with the aim of holding a historic party in Santiago with a great sports and social legacy for Chile.
