Last Saturday, August 9, the Paraguayan capital of Asunción was the stage for the long-awaited opening ceremony of the 2025 Junior Pan American Games, an event marking a milestone in youth sports across the Americas. With a spectacular presentation at the Ueno Defensores del Chaco Stadium, this grand sporting celebration began, bringing together more than 3,500 young athletes from 41 countries — all with their sights set on the Lima 2027 Pan American Games.

Authorities, Tereré, and drones steal the show

The night at Defensores del Chaco kicked off with a vibrant musical performance that began with the Paraguayan national anthem, followed by the solemn parade of the participating delegations. The event was attended by high-profile figures, including the First Lady of Paraguay, Lorena Ponce de León; the President of Paraguay, Santiago Peña; the President of Panam Sports, Neven Ilic; the President of ODESUR and the Paraguayan Olympic Committee, Camilo Pérez López Moreira — all of whom addressed the crowd with messages of motivation and commitment to youth sports.

The celebration continued with a dazzling drone show that lit up the sky, displaying the Paraguayan flag and various iconic national symbols, culminating with the outline of the country’s map, a symbol of Paraguay’s unity and hospitality. As part of the festivities, Paraguay’s traditional drink, Tereré, was presented alongside a heartfelt dance performance and live music, showcasing the host country’s rich cultural heritage and blending gastronomy with sport.

Opening the 2025 Junior Pan American Games

During the ceremony, the co-president of the organizing committee, César Ramírez, highlighted the event’s importance as a platform for the development and projection of young athletes across the continent. For his part, the President of Panam Sports emphasized the organization’s commitment to fostering youth sports and strengthening integration among the nations of the Americas. The pinnacle moment came when Santiago Peña officially declared the 2025 Junior Pan American Games open, ushering in days filled with competition, passion, and dedication.

The Pan American Oath and the flame that unites the continent

In an emotional moment, athletes, coaches, and judges took the Pan American Oath, reaffirming their values of respect, friendship, and fair play. The traditional Pan American flame was lit in a ceremony supported by a team of 3,500 volunteers, both Paraguayan and international, who are assisting in the organization and logistics of the Games, reflecting the strong social commitment surrounding this sporting event.

These Games also serve as qualifiers for the Lima 2027 Pan American Games, with 216 spots at stake: 200 in individual events and 16 in team sports, further raising the stakes for the competitions to come.

With participation from 41 countries across the Americas — from Argentina to Venezuela, including United States, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, and host nation Paraguay — this event gathers the continent’s top young athletes in 28 sports disciplines. These range from traditional events like athletics, swimming, gymnastics, tennis, and volleyball, to newer additions that enrich the competition, such as open water swimming, BMX freestyle, shooting, golf, water skiing, rugby sevens, and hockey.