The support of athletes has been key to organizing the IV South American Youth Games Panama 2026. Their competitive experience and real understanding of what participants need bring tremendous value to the team.
One of them is Daniela Rodríguez, a taekwondo athlete and a member of our team serving as a Safe Sport Officer. Daniela has competed in the 2022, 2024, and 2025 Bolivarian Games, the 2022 South American Games, and the 2023 and 2025 Central American and Caribbean Games. In total, she has earned seven medals: one gold and six bronze.
Speaking about her involvement, she shared:
“It’s an incredible opportunity to contribute to the country’s sports development from a professional perspective, while also exploring more deeply other passions such as psychology and safe sport.”
She also emphasized that, for her, “it’s an opportunity impossible to pass up!”
At Panama 2026, we believe in creating opportunities for everyone. Daniela herself sums it up perfectly:
“I thought I would never have the opportunity to take part in a Youth Games. I never imagined that almost ten years later I would be experiencing one from this new perspective.”
Regarding her role as a Safe Sport Officer, she sees it as a major step forward in her career:
“Being able to contribute to a safer, violence-free sports environment truly excites me, because everyone deserves to enjoy their sport!”
Daniela is #NextLevel
