Eight days before the start of the 2026 South American Games, the ‘Invencible’ Provincial Aquatic Centre in Rosario was officially opened at a ceremony led by Governor Maximiliano Pullaro. The opening featured a day of exhibition events, providing an opportunity to showcase the facilities and give a preview of the activities that will take place during the South American Games.
Speaking at the event, the governor emphasised that “today we can show Argentina and the world that Santa Fe has the best sports infrastructure in Argentina and in Latin America. When the people of Santa Fe come together, we can move forward”. “The legacy that the South American Games will leave is that our young people will be shaped by the values of sport, discipline, effort and hard work,” Pullaro stressed.
The governor emphasised that “this project, which sets us apart in Argentina and Latin America, was not initiated by the government I am leading, but is a continuation of what was started under previous administrations”, both in the province and in the towns where the competitions will take place: Rosario, Santa Fe and Rafaela. “This shows that we, the people of Santa Fe, are different: we carry on what others have started. We are not selfish, nor do we believe we must be the ones to lay the foundations; rather, we press ahead with what we believe to be right”, he added.
Pullaro was accompanied by the provincial senator and former governor of Corrientes, Gustavo Valdés; the mayor of Rosario, Pablo Javkin; the Games’ spokesperson, Federico Angelini; the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Clara García; former governors Antonio Bonfatti and Omar Perotti; and the President of the Argentine Olympic Committee and Odesur, Mario Moccia, amongst other officials.
On this occasion, Javkin stated that the opening marks “a new phase in a dream that, six decades ago, many people championed so that Rosario could have a water sports infrastructure capable of placing it at the highest international level”. “The most important aspect of the legacy of these Games will be the number of athletes who will be able to emerge as a result of having this infrastructure,” he added.
The Minister for Public Works of Santa Fe, Lisandro Enrico, meanwhile, highlighted the effort required: “In the space of a year, we had to carry out and complete 21 projects across the province, and this was the most complex of all those the Government of Santa Fe had to undertake to host the South American Games.” The minister pointed out that, 13 months and four days ago, the aquatic centre was “little more than a wasteland” and that today it constitutes a high-performance facility that will remain as a legacy for the people of Santa Fe.
A world-class venue
Moccia congratulated the governor on the project and said, “It fills me with pride that the Games are being held in our country and in the province of Santa Fe, with Maximiliano Pullaro at the helm and a team that took the decision to make them a reality, because this sporting event will transform the province.” “This is a world-class venue, equipped to host all kinds of competitions. Not only will it enable young people to train in better conditions, but it will also have a lasting impact and leave a legacy for the next 30 or 40 years,” he added.
A dream come true for athletes
Former water polo player Iván Carabantes said that the centre is “a dream for everyone: for water sports, for the city and for the province”. Former Olympic swimmer Federico Grabich emphasised that many young people from Santa Fe will have “the best training conditions in the world”. Olympic swimmers Sofía and Etel Sánchez pointed out that the facilities will enable new generations to benefit from an infrastructure in which they themselves have already competed at international level.
A two-pool complex
The new venue features two indoor swimming pools. One of them is an Olympic-sized pool, 50 metres long, 25 metres wide and three metres deep, and will be able to accommodate temporary stands with a capacity of up to 1,000 spectators.
The second is designed for diving. It measures 21 metres long by 25 metres wide, is five metres deep and features a ten-metre-high reinforced concrete structure for platforms and springboards. This area will allow for the installation of temporary stands for 450 people.
The project also includes changing rooms, storage areas, toilets, technical areas and a basement to house the complex’s services.
To ensure the venue is ready for the Games in accordance with the required standards, work requested by the international technical officials for each discipline has been incorporated.
