With an emotional ceremony that brought together authorities, organizers, and young sports talents, the official launch of the Chile 2025 Youth Parapan American Games was held on Friday, March 28.
This event, scheduled to take place from October 31 to November 9, will be a milestone in bringing the excitement of youth Paralympic sports to various regions of the country, including the Metropolitan Region, Valparaíso, and O’Higgins, as part of an effort to decentralize sports.
The ceremony was led by Jaime Pizarro, Minister of Sports, and featured prominent participants such as Julio César Ávila, President of the Americas Paralympic Committee (APC); Sebastián Villavicencio, President of the Chilean Paralympic Committee (Copachi); representatives from CAF's inclusion coordination; Israel Castro, Director of the National Sports Institute (IND); and Karen Astorga, Director of the National Disability Service (Senadis).
By organizing the 2025 Youth Parapan American Games, Chile solidifies its position as a regional leader by becoming the first country to host all three major Para sports events in the Americas: the Parasuramericanos in 2014, the Parapan American Games in 2023, and now the Youth Parapan American Games in 2025.
During the launch, an exciting lineup of 13 sports was confirmed for the competition. A notable addition for this edition is sitting volleyball, which was not included in the recent Santiago 2023 Parapan American Games. The other sports include Para athletics, boccia, blind football, cerebral palsy football, goalball, Para judo, Para powerlifting, Para table tennis, Para swimming, wheelchair basketball (3x3 and 5x5), Para archery, and wheelchair tennis.
Another significant announcement was the confirmation of participation from 34 delegations across the Americas. Among them is Bolivia, making its debut in an APC-organized competition—a milestone for Paralympic sports development. Other confirmed delegations include Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Mexico, the United States, and many more.
In a symbolic moment during the ceremony, the official logo for the Chile 2025 Youth Parapan American Games was unveiled alongside its inspiring motto: "Pure Attitude," reflecting the determination and grit of young Para athletes.
The Chile 2025 Youth Parapan American Games are shaping up to be a high-level sporting event and a crucial platform for developing youth Paralympic sports on the continent. They aim to promote inclusion, celebrate young athletes' talent, and mark the start of the Paralympic cycle leading up to Los Angeles 2028.