The Santiago 2023 Parapan American Games are inaugurated | News

The Santiago 2023 Parapan American Games kicked off this Friday with everything after their opening ceremony at the National Stadium in the Chilean capital, on a day full of shows with lights, fireworks and musical presence.

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It all started with the countdown that gave way to the Chilean anthem performed by 50 instruments of the military band and the child soprano Amanda Ramírez. Meanwhile, the flag of the host country was raised to give way to the parade of 2,262 athletes from 31 countries, who joined the opening ceremony from the track.

The mascot of the games, Fiu led the parade of athletes, passing first of all on the court. Then came Argentina, as is tradition, to continue with the rest of the 31 countries.

Among the applause for the various performances, the ovations stood out for Saraphina Delusme from Haiti and Kestrel Kydd from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the only athletes from their countries. However, the greatest ovation came at the end, with Team ParaChile in an Olympic lap led by Tamara Leonelli and Vicente Almonacid.

The Minister of Sports and leader of the Santiago 2023 Corporation, Jaime Pizarro, highlighted the "hundreds of wills that make possible a milestone that seemed distant", that "the world is watching us once again" and "as in the Pan American Games, we hope rise to the challenge".

On the other hand, the president of the Paralympic Committee of the Americas, Julio César Ávila, thanked the various institutions for making the continental event possible and also addressed the public, which "is part of the legacy of the Games."

After these interventions, Chilean President Gabriel Boric officially inaugurated the Parapan American Games.

The lighting of the cauldron came on stage through the relief of the Chilean para-athletes Macarena Quero, Francisca Mardonez and Alberto Abarza. The person in charge of lighting the flame that reflects the development of the Games was the first Chilean gold medalist in the Paralympics, Cristian Valenzuela.

The night ended with fireworks on the perimeter of the Julio Martínez Prádanos National Stadium, which raised spirits to continue the multidisciplinary contest that will end on Sunday, November 26.