A delegation from the Monitoring Committee of the South American Sports Organisation (Odesur) visited construction sites in the province of Santa Fe this week ahead of the 2026 South American Games, which are due to take place in September in the cities of Rosario, Santa Fe and Rafaela. During the visit, the organisation’s representatives highlighted the progress made on the sports infrastructure and praised the planning carried out by the Provincial Government.
The itinerary began in Rosario, where the commission members were received by provincial authorities and representatives of the Argentine Olympic Committee. The delegation comprised Miguel Ángel Mujica from Chile, president of the Odesur Monitoring Commission; Jorge Delgado from Ecuador; Francisco Barreto from Brazil, representative of the Athletes’ Commission; Mario Cilenti from Argentina, executive director of Odesur; and Fabio Ramírez from Colombia, the organisation’s technical and development director.
In that city, they inspected the Parque Independencia Stadium, the Multiespacio Arena at the Predio Ferial, the Villa Sudamericana and the Provincial Aquatic Centre, venues that will host various disciplines during the event. Representing the Province was Julián Galdeano, Secretary for Institutional Relations and General Coordinator of the organising committee, alongside other staff members.
On Tuesday, the delegation continued its tour in Rafaela and later in the city of Santa Fe. In Rafaela, they visited the velodrome, the Distrito Joven stadium and the Villa Sudamericana. In the afternoon, once in the metropolitan area of the provincial capital, they inspected progress at the International Shooting Centre in Recreo, the Villa Sudamericana, the athletics track and the indoor stadium at the High-Performance Sports Centre (CARD).
The Provincial Secretary for Sport, Fernando Maletti, explained that the visit forms part of the monitoring carried out by Odesur since Santa Fe was confirmed as a host city. “We are practically 180 days away from the Games. The commission has been monitoring the entire process from the outset and today finds the works at a very advanced stage, some nearing 70% and others around 50%. That gives us confidence that we are doing things right,” he said.
Capital of sport
The committee chairman, Miguel Ángel Mujica, highlighted the progress made compared to the situation a year ago. “Twelve months ago we had plans and ideas; today we can see that what the province of Santa Fe is doing is a real success. The infrastructure is already taking shape,” he said.
Mujica also highlighted the South American Village model in the city of Santa Fe, which will accommodate athletes from the 15 participating countries. “The fact that athletes can stay in a village rather than in hotels is a major step forward. Furthermore, the flats will serve a social purpose after the Games, as they will be handed over or sold to people in need,” he explained.
Regarding sports facilities, the Chilean official particularly highlighted the development of the Rafaela sports complex. “It is a top-class facility. The city should already start thinking about which national or international events it will be able to host there, as it allows for competitions in up to five different disciplines to be organised,” he noted.
For his part, the president of the Argentine Olympic Committee, Mario Moccia, emphasised the strategic value of sport for social and educational development. “Governor Maximiliano Pullaro’s decision to take on the challenge of organising these Games is very important. Sport conveys values, shapes young people and helps build a healthier society,” he said.
Moccia added that the legacy of the facilities will extend beyond the competition. “The Games will give new meaning to the province and position it as Argentina’s sporting capital, because there is currently no infrastructure in the country as comprehensive as the one Santa Fe will have,” he said.
The visit concluded with comments from Brazilian Francisco Barreto, representative of the Athletes’ Commission, who expressed surprise at the scale of the project. “I have taken part in four Pan American Games and have never seen such a large-scale facility for an event of this kind. The athletes arriving in Santa Fe will undoubtedly have an extraordinary experience,” he said.
