Argentina bids farewell to delegation ahead of Santa Fe 2026 South American Games

The countdown to the Santa Fe 2026 South American Games is nearing its end, and Argentina has formally sent off the delegation that will compete across three cities in the province.

Around 100 athletes attended Monday’s ceremony at the CeNARD, representing the nearly 650 Argentines preparing to compete in Rosario, Santa Fe and Rafaela. Canoeist Rubén Voisard Rézola and Sofía Cairo led the group and received the blue-and-white flag they will carry at Saturday’s opening ceremony.

For Voisard Rézola, the honor also connects the Games to his home province. “It is an enormous pleasure to be able to carry this flag. I feel it is recognition for my sport, for everything that has been done over so many years and for my sporting career,” the 35-year-old canoeist told Clarín. He has competed at three Olympic Games and won silver at the 2011 Pan American Games, gold in 2015 and bronze in 2019.

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It is an enormous pleasure to be able to carry this flag. I feel it is recognition for my sport, for everything that has been done over so many years and for my sporting career.

Cairo, 23, was named after recently becoming a world champion with Las Leonas at the tournament held in Belgium and the Netherlands. “For me it is an enormous joy, it is incredible and moving,” she said. She described the appointment as recognition for the entire team and for the teammates who had taken part in the process.

Several members of the world champion women’s hockey squad attended, along with the men’s team, swimmers, athletes, volleyball players, handball players, esports competitors and artistic skaters. The swimming team suffered two last-minute absences, Agostina Hein and Ulises Saravia. The ceremony also included a performance of Argentina’s national anthem accompanied by a video featuring historic and emotional images.

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For me it is an enormous joy, it is incredible and moving.