Talent, culture, legacy with these words the Closing Ceremony of the IV South American Youth Games Panama 2026 was described.
A sea of flags and culture flooded the Roberto Durán Arena with the entrance of the delegations from Ecuador, Argentina, Suriname, Paraguay, Peru, Chile, Curaçao, Colombia, Panama, Brazil, Aruba, Guyana, Venezuela, Uruguay, and Bolivia.
After many years of waiting, Panama successfully hosted the IV South American Youth Games Panama 2026, and around 7:20 in the evening, amidst great nostalgia, recognition was given to the volunteers those who, after hours of effort, energy, and sacrifice, were present to contribute their grain of sand to this sporting event that made history.
The flag bearers by country were Leonardo Vargas Ponce and Briana Iriarte Botello (Bolivia), Pedro Olmos and Zoe Gorski (Argentina), Jevin Tobias Aguero and Emily Antunes Kuster (Brazil), Caleb Caldito Chang and Yumaira Russell (Panama), Mauricio Escurra and Jimena Sostoa (Paraguay), Jermain Brigitta and Keziah Zoe Isabella Fluonia (Curaçao), Matías Moreno and Valentina Cancino (Chile), Francisco Pereira and Antonella Bonomi (Uruguay), Kevin Campaz and Juliana Agresot (Colombia), Ezekiel Millington and Akeelah Dover (Guyana), Sofía Junco and Thiago Goyzueta (Peru), Eden Antersyn and Esteffanie Van Greene (Aruba), Matheus Méndez and Katherine Perea (Ecuador), Leyon Cyrus and Ciara Tol (Suriname), and Enzo Quintana and Arianny Echandía (Venezuela).
The president of the South American Youth Games Panama 2026, Anamae Orillac, thanked all the people who believed in this dream volunteers, athletes, and the organizing committee. She highlighted that Panama has the infrastructure, talent, and human capital to host international sporting events. Also present were Miguel Ordóñez, director of Pandeportes, and Damaris Young, president of the Panamanian Olympic Committee.
With the privilege of sharing with the seeds of sport, Antón, the Rana Dorada (Golden Frog) mascot of JSJ Panama 2026, spread joy, hope, and environmental education in the fight to preserve and reduce the risk of extinction of this species, which was born in the mountains of the Valle de Antón in the province of Coclé. Today, a group of scientists from the EVACC Foundation is dedicated to the care, protection, awareness, and reproduction of these amphibians.
Birth of new stories
Talent, discipline, and sportsmanship. It is a legacy that will remain forever an infrastructure, organizational knowledge, and sport as a tool for transformation. At the end of the ceremony, the flag of the South American Sports Organization (ODESUR) and the Olympic flag were lowered, and the South American flame was extinguished. With this message, Vice President Mario Moccia declared the South American Youth Games Panama 2026 officially closed.
