Santander was represented by 316 athletes in the inaugural event, which showcased the best of the country’s young sporting talents during the opening ceremony in Pereira. The competitions will take place from November 9 to 28.
The First National Youth Games were launched at the Hernán Ramírez Villegas Stadium, in the capital of Risaralda. A total of 5,699 athletes, including 507 para-athletes, will compete in 35 Olympic sports and 12 Paralympic sports.
It is the first multi-sport event in the history of the country with a calendar that includes the Olympic and Paralympic sectors. A total of 32 delegations have confirmed their participation, with Santander sending 316 young athletes eager to represent the region in search of the coveted podium.
“Through the Government of Santander and following some national qualifications, our department will present a strong and famous contingent of 316 young athletes and 114 delegates. We are committed to providing our delegation in the best of logistics, biomedical action and everything necessary for an event of this magnitude,” said Ariel Rojas Rodríguez, director of InderSantander.
Sports Disciplines
There is participation in 35 Olympic sports, including archery, athletics, badminton, dance sports, basketball, handball, softball, baseball, bowling, boxing, canoeing, cycling, horse riding, fencing, water skiing, gymnastics, golf, judo, karate , weightlifting, wrestling, swimming, skating, racquetball, rugby sevens, surfing, squash, taekwondo, tennis, table tennis, shooting, triathlon, sailing, volleyball and sport climbing, the latter being an exhibition discipline.
In the Paralympic sector, there are 12 sports: archery for people with disabilities, athletics for people with disabilities, badminton for people with disabilities, boccia, football for the blind, CP football , cycling for people with disabilities, judo for people with visual impairments. disabilities, swimming for people with disabilities, weightlifting for people with disabilities, table tennis for people with disabilities and wheelchair tennis.
The main venues of the event are the cities of the Coffee Region: Pereira, Armenia and Manizales, with sub-venues in Cali, Bogotá, Buenaventura, Nilo and Calima Darién.
These games will serve as a springboard for the country’s youth talent, giving young athletes and para-athletes a unique platform to showcase their potential and compete at the highest level. This is the first step towards every athlete’s dream of reaching the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The ceremony will feature a Hip-Hop show with stage dancers and folk dances from all regions of the country, highlighting the diversity and cultural richness that characterizes Colombia. The opening performance is a tour of the Colombian geography through music, celebrating the national identity and emphasizing the importance of unity and respect for all expressions of the country’s culture.