Asunción, Agencia IP.- With 320 athletes confirmed and the goal of securing at least 20 medals, Paraguay enters the final stretch of preparation for the Asunción 2025 Junior Pan American Games, which will take place from August 9 to 23 across the cities of Asunción, San Bernardino, Encarnación, and San Juan del Paraná.
The host nation is getting ready to welcome over 4,200 young athletes from 41 countries across the Americas in the second edition of this continental sporting event, following its debut in Cali, Colombia, in 2021.
The Games target athletes aged 14 to 22 and offer a stage for future Olympic hopefuls. They also provide a space for cultural exchange and the strengthening of values such as discipline, excellence, and international unity.
Rocío Rivarola, Sports Director of the Paraguayan Olympic Committee and Pan American attaché for ASU 2025, announced the final number of athletes who will make up «Team Paraguay» during an interview on Paraguay TV’s Tribuna program. The former rower and current official expressed her excitement about this edition, which holds a special emotional and symbolic value for being played on home soil.
«We ask all citizens to mark August 9 to 23 on their calendars to support our athletes,» she claimed.
The event is expected to boost the local economy, promote tourism, create jobs, and position Paraguay as a host for large-scale international sporting events.
Paraguay will be represented by a delegation consisting of 320 athletes, 72 staff members, and 50 technical support professionals. Countries like the United States, Mexico, Argentina, Canada, and Colombia—traditionally strong participants—are also expected to bring large teams.
Among the disciplines where Paraguay is strongly targeting medals are rowing, with Nicole Martínez; squash, with Fiorella Gatti; and athletics, an area that has shown steady growth. Rivarola also highlighted the country’s potential in women’s handball, beach volleyball, and 3×3 basketball.
«We’ve strengthened our teams with specialized coaches and organized 14 preparatory training camps in Asunción with international participation,» she said.
In total, competitions will be held in 44 sports disciplines, including athletics, swimming, cycling, basketball (both 3×3 and 5×5), hockey, rugby, golf, and water skiing, among many others. These events will demand a high technical and physical level, reaffirming the competitive nature of the Games.
The organization of the ASU 2025 Junior Pan American Games involves an inter-institutional effort covering infrastructure, logistics, security, accommodation, and tourism promotion. Sports venues have been upgraded, and the host cities are ready to welcome delegations in a setting of hospitality and high-level competition.
Beyond the sporting dimension, the event represents a strategic opportunity for Paraguay. It is expected to energize the economy, encourage tourism, create jobs, and reinforce Paraguay’s image as a host for major international sports events. It will also contribute to regional integration and promote the country’s cultural presence at the continental level.
With everything set for the start of the competition, Paraguay is poised to be a key player in this major celebration of youth sport in the Americas, determined to leave an unforgettable mark in the history of the Junior Pan American Games.