Panama Prepares for Half-Century's Largest Sports Event

Panama is gearing up for its biggest sports event in the past 50 years. The 4th South American Youth Games 2026, scheduled from April 12 to 25, will bring together 17 countries competing in 25 sports disciplines in this major international competition.

Damaris Young, President of the Panama Olympic Committee (COP), announced that "preparation progress has exceeded 60%, with over 95% of the organizing staff comprised of Panamanian experts." The games are being systematically prepared with over 600 detailed implementation tasks.

Efficient Operations Strategy Centered on Existing Facilities

Panama is focusing on utilizing existing infrastructure rather than constructing new facilities. Of the 23 total sports, 69% will take place at existing venues such as Irving Saladino Sports City and the High Performance Training Center (CAR).

The remaining 29% will utilize facilities with proven international event experience, including the Atheyna Bylon Center and Figali Convention Center. The Figali Center recently successfully hosted the Pan American Gymnastics Championships. Surfing events are scheduled for Playa Venao beach.

A Festival for Youth Athletes Aged 14-17

This competition targets youth athletes between 14 and 17 years old. A total of 24 sports will be held, including 23 official sports plus chess as an invitational sport.

Major sports include soccer, futsal, baseball, flag football, 3x3 basketball, athletics, badminton, triathlon, and gymnastics. President Young explained, "While we'd like to include all sports, we made responsible decisions considering our available facilities and capabilities."

A Leap Forward for Panama's Sports Infrastructure

This event is expected to mark a significant turning point in Panama's sports infrastructure development. The Olympic Committee, in cooperation with the government sports department (Pandeportes), is focusing on maximizing the utilization of existing facilities while creating a sustainable sports environment for post-games use.

Particularly, facilities upgraded for this event are planned to serve as training bases for Panamanian youth athletes in the future. Competition schedules and detailed information can be found on the official event website.