On Tuesday afternoon, the Governor of Santa Fe, Maximiliano Pullaro, recognised more than 400 companies that took part in finalising the construction work and logistics for the 2026 South American Games. The investment in infrastructure, equipment and services linked to the event also represents a significant boost to job creation.
During the event, held at ATE Casa España in the city of Santa Fe, Pullaro stated: “We wanted to come together to thank you and tell you that, over the past year and a half, we have felt part of the same team. We put a great deal of determination and passion into what needed to be done. In addition to the legacy of the South American Games, we have demonstrated that the State can work with the private sector on major challenges and see them through.”
The governor recalled the difficulties involved in moving forward with the organisation of the Games: “The province had bid to host the event and had succeeded. Three years on, we are organising the biggest sporting event in Latin America.”
Pullaro maintained that the Games will have an impact that goes beyond the sporting competition itself. “On the one hand, there is what sport represents; on the other, the legacy that will remain for the people of Santa Fe. Not only will we remember that we were able to organise an international event, but Rafaela, Santa Fe and Rosario will be able to host sporting, artistic, cultural and musical events,” he said.
In this regard, he highlighted the opportunity to boost the province’s profile as a tourist destination. “We always view Santa Fe as the most productive province in Argentina, but perhaps we do not pay enough attention to its development as a tourist destination and its various facets. Today we have the capacity to attract visitors through our cuisine, music, culture, history and art. The South American Games will be the showcase to demonstrate this to the world. There are already more than 900 accredited national and international journalists,” he said.
“What we have achieved together is truly immense and will remain etched in our memory. I saw the commitment and enthusiasm of every single company that took part. This shows us to be a province that never stands still. We are convinced that public works mean development, but also equality. Many people who previously did not have the opportunity to play sport in certain places will now be able to do so. We are proud because there are no sports facilities in the country like the ones we have here,” concluded Pullaro.
Recognition of commitment
The Minister for Public Works, Lisandro Enrico, thanked the company representatives for the planning and execution of “unconventional projects, completed in record time”. “These are 21 sports infrastructure projects that were completed on time and to the required standard,” he emphasised.
For his part, the Minister for Productive Development, Gustavo Puccini, expressed his “gratitude to those who have already earned the gold medal: the companies that rose to the challenge of one of the Provincial Government’s greatest challenges, perhaps the most difficult one”.
For his part, the Secretary for Institutional Relations, Julián Galdeano, emphasised that “everyone is, has been and will be a key player in this legacy of Santa Fe 2026”. “We are immensely grateful for the effort made; we know it was not easy,” he added.
Key voices
Speaking on behalf of the more than 400 recognised companies, Carolina Haymes, a director at Adecoagro, stated that “the investments allocated to the South American Games are very important”. “These are projects that will benefit the whole of society and an opportunity to showcase ourselves to the world,” she said.
Diego Pistone, a representative of Ilolay, said that the firm is supporting the initiative because “sport is a cornerstone for any society that aspires to develop in a holistic way”. “For us, it is already an honour to be able to support the Province,” he noted.
For his part, César Lecruit, partner and manager at Alca Ingeniería—whose company is in charge of the refurbishment of the High-Performance Sports Centre (CARD) in Santa Fe and the new Recreational Shooting Centre—highlighted the technical requirements of both projects. “These are projects built to international standards. We had to adapt to meet them and secure international accreditation,” he explained.
Darío Testero, representative of the firms Auckland Turismo and Welcome Rosario and vice-president of the Rosario Bureau, stated that “it is a magnificent event, which puts three cities in the province on the international map”.
Also in attendance were the Minister for the Economy, Pablo Olivares, and the Minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security, Roald Báscolo, as well as the mayors of the city of Santa Fe, Juan Pablo Poletti, and of Rafaela, Leonardo Viotti.
