With a ceremony held at La Moneda Palace, the one-year countdown to the Santiago 2023 Pan American and Parapan American Games began. This is the most relevant multi-sport event Chile has ever organized, becoming the epicenter of sports in the Americas.
The protocol act had as protagonists President Gabriel Boric; the Minister of Sports, Alexandra Benado; the shooter Francisca Crovetto; the Para tennis player Tamara Leonelli, and the executive director of the Santiago 2023 Corporation, Gianna Cunazza, among other authorities, athletes and Para athletes from different disciplines.
In his speech, Boric stressed that “there is a value that sport teaches us, whatever it may be, is that people are different in body, abilities, skills and it is good that it is so. These Games are going to reflect that diversity. It makes me very happy that this happens in Chile.”
The President added that "Chile's image is highly respected abroad and within a year we will have the opportunity to present the country to our entire region. And the countries of this region will be present in Quillota, Algarrobo, San Pedro de la Paz, Pichilemu and different districts of the Metropolitan Region. The Games will show the world our ability to organize this event and spread joy”.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Sports, Alexandra Benado, highlighted the State’s commitment to the continental competition. “This has allowed us to have a much broader vision of what this investment of 548 million dollars means, which will not only be a material legacy, but will also have a social impact and for the sporting culture of our boys, girls and young people”, she affirmed.
In the same line, the executive director of the Santiago 2023 Corporation, Gianna Cunazza, valued the legacy that this event will leave. “We want all citizens to be involved in these Games, by volunteering or supporting the athletes in the different venues. As our slogan says, we aspire for these Games to be our meeting point for the benefit of all”, she stated.
The act concluded with the activation of the clocks to exactly 365 days for the Pan American Games and 393 for the Parapan American Games, competitions that will have the participation of 7,000 conventional athletes and 2,000 Paralympics, from October 20 to November 5 and from November 17 to 26, 2023, respectively.
The celebrations will continue this Saturday 22nd with a popular festival in Parque Bicentenario de Cerrillos, where the Pan-American and Parapan-American Village are being built. 10,000 people are expected to gather around music, sports and inclusion.
COMUNICACIONES SANTIAGO 2023
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