On the morning of this Saturday, April 4, under a radiant sun and with many locals from Antón, the town of El Valle de Antón in the province of Coclé welcomed the torch of the IV South American Youth Games Panama 2026.
The torch arrived at the El Valle volcano, home of “Antón” the Golden Frog, specifically at the EVACC Foundation, where they are dedicated to the care, protection, awareness, and reproduction of amphibian species, including the Golden Frog, whose scientific name is “Atelopus zeteki”, with the purpose of conserving and reducing the risk of extinction of this species.
Edgardo Griffith, president of the EVACC Foundation, expressed the following: “It fills me with emotion that Antón and the torch are here; for us it is incredible because we know the importance of this species (the Golden Frog) representing our athletes».
In the relay, the person in charge of carrying the torch was track and field athlete Katielis Villamil, alongside Antón, who shared moments that will remain in the memories of the children prior to the start of these South American Games that will be “At Another Level».
The El Valle baseball team, led by their coach Ruddy Waller, was also present. It is worth noting that baseball will be featured in the South American Games at the Juan Demóstenes Arosemena Stadium.
“The Golden Frog, a living symbol of our identity and of the importance of preserving what makes us unique, the mascot of these South American Games represents a call to be part of the commitment to youth, the environment, and a sustainable future,” highlighted Luz Gonzalez, representative of El Valle de Antón.
As part of the cultural representation of this tourist destination, the group “Tuna de los 4 Gatos” was also present.
The South American Youth Games Panama 2026 will take place from April 12 to 25, and tickets to enjoy this sporting celebration are completely free; you only need to visit panaticket.com and secure your ticket.
