The Paraguayan Olympic Committee (COP) has officially presented and conferred the national flag upon Team Paraguay, the delegation set to compete in the XIII South American Games in Santa Fe, Argentina, from 12 to 26 September 2026. Paraguay’s national team will consist of 341 athletes who will represent Paraguay across 32 sports and 45 different disciplines. In addition, chess will feature as an invited discipline for the Paraguayan team at the 2026 South American Games.
Dignitaries attend official ceremony
The presentation ceremony took place at the Olympic Medallists Hall within the COP headquarters in the city of Luque, near Asunción. The event brought together athletes, coaches, officials, family members, and sponsors. Notable attendees included the Minister of the National Secretariat of Sports, César Ramírez Caje, and the President of the Paraguayan Olympic Committee, Camilo Pérez López Moreira.
A central moment of the ceremony was the presentation of the Paraguayan flag to the designated flag bearers, golfer Sofía García and speed skater Julio Mirena. Both athletes took an oath, pledging to represent the country with honour, respect, and discipline throughout the competition.
Flag bearers recognised for recent success
The selection of the flag bearers acknowledges their significant recent achievements in their respective sports. Sofía García, a professional on the LPGA Tour, earned this distinction following her gold medal victory at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games. This was her second Pan American Games medal, having previously won a silver in the mixed team event at Lima 2019.
Meanwhile, Julio Mirena has established himself as a leading figure in speed skating. In 2026, he secured a silver medal in the 1,000 metres Senior event at the Pan American Speed Skating Championship. His career highlights also include a historic performance at The World Games in Chengdu in 2025, where he won both a gold and a silver medal.
A youthful and renewed 2026 South American Games delegation
Paraguay’s mission to the games comprises a total of 476 members, with the athletic contingent of 341 made up of 175 men and 166 women. The delegation will have a presence in all three host cities for the games: Rosario, Santa Fe, and Rafaela.
A prominent feature of this year’s team is its generational renewal. The average age of the athletes is 23.4 years, and notably, 60.8% of the team is aged 23 or younger. The delegation includes competitors as young as 14, with sports such as rhythmic gymnastics, sailing, badminton, and football featuring average ages below 19. The South American Games are therefore seen as a key opportunity for these young athletes to gain international experience and step into more prominent roles within Paraguayan sport.
The challenge following Asunción 2022
Team Paraguay arrives in Santa Fe following a historic performance as the host nation for the Asunción 2022 South American Games. In that event, the country achieved its best-ever result, securing a total of 48 medals: eight gold, 26 silver, and 14 bronze.
However, officials anticipate a different scenario in this edition. A number of the medal-winning athletes from Asunción 2022 are no longer active, and several of the disciplines in which Paraguay reached the podium are not part of the Santa Fe 2026 programme. Based on current planning, Team Paraguay has set a projection of securing 36 medals, comprising three gold, 12 silver, and 21 bronze.
The XIII South American Games will take place from 12 to 26 September across the Argentinian cities of Rosario, Santa Fe, and Rafaela. For Paraguay, the continental event represents a chance to solidify the standing of its experienced athletes while fostering the development of a new generation of sporting talent.
