After a magical night to remember, the 2023 Parapan American Games officially started

With a magical night, full of light, colours and emotions, the Santiago 2023 Parapan American Games officially got underway on 17 November.

The Opening Ceremony in the Estadio Nacional of Chile saw almost 2,000 athletes from the 31 participating countries parade their flags around the running track, while more than 15.000 people in the stands cheered and clapped to the fullest of their hearts. It was the warmest feeling for a cold night in Santiago. But more importantly, it was the perfect celebration to inaugurate the biggest Para sport competition of the Americas.

For the most experienced Para athletes, the moment will be another great one to cherish within their sporting collection; for the rookie ones, the moment will stick in their memory for a long time.

Since the dozens of buses start leaving the Athlete’s Village toward the stadium, the excitement and even nervousness could be felt in the air. Some young athletes were even surprised about being escorted by the local police in a big transit operation.

Also, noteworthy was how, among the sea of Para athletes, the big patches of light blue for the Argentinian jackets, the yellow ones for the Brazilians (the biggest delegation in Santiago with 324) and the red ones for Chileans, just to name a few, were a beautiful contrast to set the tone for the night.  

As the Paralympic Movement demands, the Para athletes are a community. While they waited to enter the scene, regardless that they will battle until 26 November for glory, medals and some even for Paris 2024 Paralympic Games qualification, they exchanged pins from each other’s countries, they painted flags in their faces, they got to know each other more than on the playing field.  

Into the spotlight 

Then the pivotal time came. Immersed into a show of lights (from the production and from phones in the stands), music, dancers and drones in the sky, delegations got their spotlight. One by one, they entered the stadium in alphabetical order, but with Chile as the last course.

The uproar was numbing. And the gratitude from the local athletes could be perceived from kilometres away. And then, in unison, both sides got together on the popular local chants of “Chi, chi, chi… le, le le”.

“Today is a historical milestone for Chile, there is a lot of excitement to have this version of the Games, in which the best of high performance will be shown”, said the Minister of Sports and President of Santiago 2023 Parapan American Games, Jaime Pizarro, in his speech.

“Support the Para athletes, because everyone who has played sports, regardless of whether it was professional or amateur, knows what it means to perform in a full venue. Let's encourage them to reach their maximum potential”, he added in a direct request to the crowd.

His words were followed by the traditional oaths for the athletes; the lightning of the Cauldron, which included an honouring of legendary Chilean Para athletes, and the official opening declaration by the Chilean president, Gabriel Boric. And for each, more loud cheers.

The ceremony ended with the presentation of local artists for, in total, almost a two-hour ceremony. And now its Games time.

Those 2,000 athletes will fiercely compete in 18 sports, starting with Para table tennis, Para shooting, Para Powerlifting and Para swimming, which will give the first medal of the competition on 18 November morning.