Six years ago, the Chilean capital of Santiago was elected as the Host City of the 2023 Pan American Games. Since then, countless government and sport leaders have helped make the dream of hosting these Games a reality.
With eight days to go until the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games begin, the Organizing Committee pays tribute to the leaders who made it possible to host the Games in Chile.
Former Chilean Presidents Sebastian Piñera and Michelle Bachelet, Panam Sports President Neven Ilic, Chilean Olympic Committee President Miguel Angel Mujica, Sports Ministers and leaders of the Bid Committee were all honored today in a ceremony at the Pan American Family Hotel.
Santiago 2023 Corporation Executive Director Harold Mayne-Nicholls led the ceremony where Chilean athletes Vicente Parraguirre (Volleyball) and Denise Rojas (Field Hockey) presented commemorative medals to all of the sport and government leaders who have helped Chile realize the dream of finally hosting the Pan American Games.
Both Mayne-Nicholls and Santiago 2023 President and Chilean Sports Minister Jaime Pizarro thanked everyone in attendance for their great effort to receive and organize the Pan American Games.
“My special gratitude to everyone that has contributed to this journey. I hope that as a community we will be able to fill these venues with a tremendous crowd and be really exceptional hosts because I have no doubt that we can do so very well,” said Santiago 2023 President Pizarro.
“I’m very content that three governments have worked on this, with mine, that of President Piñera and now President Boric’s. We are going to host a marvelous spectacle and I hope that everyone enjoys it and supports all of our athletes,” added former President of Chile, Michelle Bachelet.
“I want us all to take advantage of these Games, to help Chile take a leap forward and transform our country into one of sport. I congratulate everyone, as Michelle reminded us, this began in 2017 in Prague, and now we are just eight days away from realizing a dream. I’d like to thank Neven Ilic for his permanent support and of course the Sports Ministers that have contributed as well,” said former Chilean President Sebastian Piñera.
“The truth is I want to personally thank each of you as former Presidents of our Republic. We have always felt your support. It’s true that when one has the support of the President of the Republic, paths open up to you and it’s much easier to do everything. We are just one week away and this is going to be marvelous for Chile,” concluded Panam Sports President Neven Ilic.
Source : Panam Sports
