Chefs de Mission meet ahead of Managua 2018

Chefs de Mission from five of the six participating National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) have gathered in Nicaragua for an update on preparations for the Managua 2018 Para Central American Games, to be held from 21-28 January.

NPC Nicaragua Secretary General Dionicio Zeledon welcomed representatives from Costa Rica (Walter Soto and Andres Carvajal), El Salvador (Jorge Ochoa and Rafael Moran), Guatemala (Luis Alfonso Garcia) and Panama (Yaneli Rodriguez), as well as Americas Paralympic Committee (APC) Regional Sports Competition Manager Aimee Poyo. Honduras was the only missing country.

They visited the venues and the hotels where the delegations will stay, and were left impressed by the progress. Athletics, boccia, goalball and the opening and closing ceremonies will be held at the Nicaraguan Institute of Sports.

At the same time, powerlifting and wheelchair basketball will be contested at the Polideportivo Espana (Spain multi-sport gymnasium), while the swimming competitions will take place at the Luis A Velasquez Flores Park.

During the visit, they also attended a Pre-DRM (Delegation Registration Meeting) and were given overall information about the Games.

APC Vice-president Eduardo Montenegro said: “We are glad to see that the preparations for Managua 2018 are in an advanced stage, with the second Para Central American Games fast approaching.

“Almost everything is ready to receive the athletes from across the region for this event, which we are sure will continue to help grow and raise awareness of Para sports.”

Zeledon added: “This is a huge opportunity to create and remodel facilities in Managua, to modernise and make them more accessible.”

Around 250 athletes from Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama will compete across six sports at Managua 2018.

San Jose, Costa Rica, staged the first-ever Para Central American Games from 13-21 April 2013.

More information about the event is available online.