The countdown is almost over: there are only 30 days to go until the start of the Central American and Caribbean Games San Salvador 2023. The cauldron is about to be lit, and the medals are beginning to shine as we await the lucky winners. The cauldron is about to be lit, and the medals begin to shine as we wait to meet their lucky winners.
Our mascots Maqui and Volco arrived today and are ready to accompany, starting today and for eternity, the thousands of athletes and fans that will make the games an event like no other.
Maqui is the personification of a maquilishuat, the national tree of El Salvador. Legends that go beyond generations speak of her brave spirit, and that one night, under the moonlight, seven stars guided her to the highest mountain, where she was entrusted with the task of guiding the bravest athletes through the most difficult trials.
Volco, on the other hand, is the personification of a volcano. History has told us about a volcano with a fiery spirit and personality, and powerful arms and legs capable of supporting even the heaviest weight. Like Maqui, the same seven stars illuminated the sky pointing his way, and Volco decided to follow them without hesitation.
Our mascots will guide us along the final path that will take 30 days to be completed and will find its destination on the evening of June 23, when the Olympic cauldron will be lit.
In this 24th edition of the Games, during the 17 days of competition, more than 5,000 athletes from 36 different delegations will push themselves to the limits of their abilities, competing in 38 sports and 54 sports disciplines with the endless dream of winning a medal and making their countries proud, while the 27 sports venues and 54 sports arenas will witness the greatest sporting feats, tears of pride, and unforgettable awards.
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However, the road has been a long one, and to get to this point, it has been necessary to go through tough times and make momentous decisions.
El Salvador of the games
In August 2018, the city of Barranquilla celebrated the closing ceremony of the XXIII Central American and Caribbean Games in an atmosphere of celebration, joy, olympism, and unparalleled sportsmanship.
At that time, the responsibility passed to Panama City, which, after receiving the notification in 2017, would have six years to take on the enormous responsibility of organizing the next edition of the oldest regional sporting event on the planet.
From that August night to the present day, 658 days have passed, or, in other words, four years and 10 months.
And in the midst of them was a global pandemic that put the entire world in check, and our region, unfortunately, would not be spared.
In July 2020, in one of the most difficult moments of this pandemic, Panama City would make the difficult decision to decline to host the games. But despite this, the games had to continue, and as if to illustrate a simile, the savior of the games would appear: the city of San Salvador.
The Salvadoran capital would have had little more than a year and a half to organize what many other cities take six, but the challenge was accepted, and the thousands of athletes who eagerly awaited the games deserved to have the honor of wearing the colors of their country and compete with the goal of reaching the top of the podium.
History is about to be written
The XXIV Central American and Caribbean Games San Salvador 2023 are now entering the final stretch, and there are only 30 days left until the Olympic flames will be lit at the Estadio Nacional Jorge “El Mágico” González to the rhythm of Salvadoran joy.
Each area in our Organizing Committee (COSSAN2023) has worked tirelessly around the clock in search of perfection, finalizing details, training volunteers, managing all the essential logistical aspects, and receiving the necessary sports equipment so that our venues are ready for the first day of competitions.
It is arduous work done with will, effort, and hope, where the good atmosphere and laughter are not lacking, but also the commitment and responsibility that the occasion deserves.
Not to mention the historic investment of $115.2 million dollars in our sports venues, thanks to the support of our strategic partners at the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI), which will undoubtedly be a legacy for Salvadoran and regional sports.
The new Villa Centroamericana y del Caribe at Universidad de El Salvador (UES), which is getting ready to receive all the delegations and in which $48 million has been invested, is getting ready not only to be the home of all our athletes, coaches, and delegates but also a legacy for UES and its student community.
On the other hand, our more than 4,350 volunteers are spreading their joy and their great willingness to help, which is one of the fundamental pillars in the organization of the games.
To date, they have accompanied us in the specific training of their work areas, the recovery of spaces and beach cleanups, brand activations, and the different sports festivals we have organized with them.
We know that without their invaluable contribution, these games would not be the same, and our gratitude for their service is immeasurable.
In these coming weeks, San Salvador is ready to celebrate the greatness of sportsmanship and the passion that beats in the hearts of our athletes. A city that unites to be the venue where the dreams of thousands of athletes will come true, where records will be broken, and where history will be written.
And if we look back, just for a brief moment, we cannot believe all that has happened in a matter of almost five years. But now, with our faces forward and our excitement at the height of the stars in our logo, the time has come. But now, with our faces forward and our excitement at the height of the stars in our logo, the time has come.