On Monday in Rafaela, the Provincial Government presented an assessment of the impact and legacy of the Santa Fe 2026 South American Games, which took place from 12 to 26 September in Rafaela, Rosario and the city of Santa Fe. The event yielded positive results and opens new prospects for sport in Santa Fe.
The presentation was led by Mauricio Basso, spokesperson for the Games in Rafaela, who praised “this magnificent event”, which was planned and organised in collaboration with “top-tier partners, sponsors and suppliers, who supported us and placed their trust in us to make it a success”.
He also pointed out that hosting the South American Games “allows us to look ahead to a future for the province of Santa Fe featuring international events of this calibre, because this was achieved by a team that worked for two years”.
“It allows us to dream and to know that not only in Rafaela, Santa Fe and Rosario will we be able to achieve great things together, but that we are beginning to look ahead and put the province of Santa Fe in the position we know it deserves,” he added.
Basso also highlighted that all the events took place “without any security incidents and in a normal manner”. “We had more than 3.5 million people taking part in the events and the Fan Fests, with one very significant milestone: the 250,000 who attended the opening ceremony at the Monument to the Flag,” he said.
He also highlighted the coordinated efforts with local authorities and the Ministry of Education, which enabled more than 200,000 students to travel to the host cities to witness competitions of this scale for the first time.
The legacy and the impact
Basso highlighted “the legacy of infrastructure, the importance of the sporting and social impact, and how we are going to look ahead to make the most of all the remaining facilities and infrastructure, so that they are utilised to the full”.
In this regard, he highlighted “the value of the more than $140,000 million allocated to sports infrastructure that remains for the province, as well as the additional investment, which also amounts to around $110,000 million”.
According to preliminary data on the impact on tourism, overnight visitors spent an average of approximately $170,000 per day, whilst day trippers spent around $125,000 per day. There was also significant activity linked to the purchase of official event merchandise.
A celebration of sport and culture
Hugo Morel, the municipal coordinator during the Games, highlighted “the preparatory work that was carried out, which was absolutely vital”. “This stemmed from a political decision by the governor, which presented an enormous challenge for the province and for each of the municipalities. It was the starting point for Rafaela to form part of a historic event of national significance,” he said.
“We were convinced that the Games would go well and that Rafaela could bring something extra to the table, and that is exactly what happened. We are still finalising the figures, but the outcome is highly positive. Attendance far exceeded expectations. The event was designed for the athletes and the public, and ended up being a celebration of sport and culture,” he added.
Satisfaction among athletes and volunteers
Tomás Mondino, a silver medallist in athletics, praised the number of medals won by athletes from Santa Fe and highlighted the support from the public. “I think the crowd really made their presence felt and it was clear we were in Argentina and in Santa Fe, because the support was extraordinary,” he said.
He also praised the infrastructure left behind by the Games: “These are facilities that will remain for future athletes. We’ve come to the end of these South American Games feeling very happy, very content and with a medal.”
For her part, Martina Pavón Oggero, one of the 530 volunteers who took part in Rafaela, said it was “a huge undertaking and a wonderful, very positive experience”. “We felt very at ease; it was an intense learning experience. There were constant surprises; we all learnt a great deal, and I think volunteering is about being willing and available to meet the public’s needs. It was a real celebration,” she concluded.
