La Jornada – Inclusion without limits at the opening of the Parapan American Games

After the uproar of the traditional competition, it is the turn of nearly 2,000 para-athletes who will compete in the 2023 Parapan American Games in Santiago, which officially opened yesterday.

The ceremony opened the curtain for thousands of Chileans gathered at the National Stadium.

Among the many mariachi hats, a large part of the Mexican delegation walked down the runway in front of the magic of one of the fans who admired all the clothes in which the 31 countries displayed.

This time Mexico will be represented by 182 competitors, many of whom will be looking for places that guarantee their attendance at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. At least nine sports will be given direct tickets to the Paris competition.

Eight other disciplines will provide points or marks for the Paralympic competition.

Unlike the Pan American Games, where the United States is the major power with 2,210 gold medals in Games history, Brazil is the leader in the Parapan American Games. Since this match’s debut in Mexico City in 1999, the Brazilians have made 585 ore, followed by Mexico with 402 and the United States with 220.

Sports leaders shed light on the path of the Paralympic movement on the American continent, since it was held for the first time in the Mexican capital.

In that distant version, the organization included only four sports and about a thousand athletes. However, 24 years later, there are now more than 1,900 athletes in 17 disciplines.

It gives me great pride to see how we have developed in the Americassaid Andrew Parsons, President of the International Olympic Committee.

Today the first medals will be awarded in five disciplines; Among them are wheelchair table tennis; The only sport that had activity before the opening ceremony. Mexicans Francisco Gonzalez (Category 4) and María Sigala (Category 1-3) managed to qualify for the semi-finals and will be looking for gold, as will Martha Verdin, Claudia Pérez, Ginelli Gongora and Jesús Sanchez. The six tri-colored representatives, no matter what happens, have already obtained bronze.

A display of unlimited inclusion in the sport occurred when an old person and a young girl put on a unique match.

Costa Rican Christel Morales (16 years old) collided with Canadian Stephanie Chan (66 years old), the oldest woman to participate in the continental event.

In the end, the victory went to the Canadian. The gaming portal reported that Chan will face another complex commitment next month, when she will undergo heart surgery, and from there she will begin her preparations towards Barranquilla 2027.