Panama President Jose Raul Mulino officially ignited the torch for the 2026 South American Youth Games in a ceremony on Friday, March 27. The event marks the final countdown for Panama as it prepares to host the major regional sporting competition for the first time in history.
The flame will now travel across all ten provinces and two indigenous regions of the country. Its journey culminates at the opening ceremony on April 12, 2026, at the Rommel Fernández Stadium in Panama City. Organizers expect over two thousand young athletes from fifteen nations to compete.
A Historic Moment for National Sports
Speaking before a delegation of Panamanian athletes and officials, President Mulino framed the event as a transformative moment. He emphasized the national pride and international spotlight the games will bring. The government’s commitment and public resources, he stated, made this ambitious project possible.
“This is a historic day. From this Friday, the torch of the South American Games will tour our country until the formal start of this world-class event on Panamanian soil,” said presidente mulino. “This demonstrates we are advancing well, with firm steps, putting this country on the international stage in our sports and for our athletes, all to fill Panama with glory.” [Translated from Spanish]
The president received the symbolic flame from the director of the National Sports Institute (Pandeportes), Miguel Ordoñez, and the president of the Panama Olympic Committee, Damaris Young. He then passed the lit torch to young athletes Julieta Escobar and Ian Mata. They will carry it to Chiriqui province to begin its nationwide tour.
Legacy of Preparation and National Unity
Damaris Young highlighted years of intense preparation leading to this point. She spoke of a dream realized, one that includes permanent coaches for athletes and world-class sporting infrastructure. The games, themed “Our Identity, To Another Level,” feature a golden frog mascot named Anton and butterfly-shaped medals.
Pandeportes director miguel ordo stressed the overwhelmingly Panamanian effort behind the games. He reported that 95 percent of the workforce involved in organization and design is local. This project, he asserted, sets a new standard for transparency and national collaboration in Panamanian sports governance.
“A before and an after is being marked in terms of governance, traceability, and transparency. The effort we have all made as Panamanians shows that when we unite, this is the result,” Ordoñez told the assembled athletes. “Remember, this is yours, by you, and for you. Panama triumphs today, and we do it all for you.” [Translated from Spanish]
The ceremony followed the recent inauguration of the Luis Carlos “Matador” Tejada High Performance Center. That massive 94,000-square-meter complex will serve as a primary venue. Other competition sites include the Irving Saladino Sports City, the Atheyna Bylon Combat Center, and Playa Venao.
With the torch now lit, a palpable sense of anticipation grips the Panamanian sports community. The upcoming South American Youth Games represent more than just competition. They are viewed as a catalyst for lasting athletic development and a powerful display of national capability on an international stage.