Sports Minister Jaime Pizarro, Sports Undersecretary Antonia Illanes, national director of the National Sports Institute (IND), Israel Castro, and the mayor of Ñuñoa, Emilia Ríos, visited the construction works for the Contact Sports Training Center ahead of the Santiago 2023 Pan American and Parapan American Games.
The venue is located in the National Stadium Park and will host the competitions for the following sports during the games:
- Wrestling
- Judo
- Karate
- Taekwondo
After the games have ended, the venue could be used as a training and competition space for the different disciplines as part of their material legacy.
Size and capacity of the center
The authorities reported that the venue covers a total area of approximately 8,000 square meters of construction and 5,068 square meters of outside area.
The main building will have a permanent capacity of 926 spectators, which can be complemented with a temporary capacity of at least 328 more people.
The new sports complex also has spaces for universal accessibility, including places for those in wheelchairs attending the Santiago 2023 competitions.
Each stand has the necessary facilities for the public, such as bathrooms, a sales area during competitions, and an infirmary.
The building also has independent flows and accesses for athletes, the press and the VIP sector.
The Contact Sports Training Center will permanently host training for the four disciplines (judo, karate, taekwondo and wrestling) simultaneously.
Each sport will be provided with at least three tatami mats with the measurements indicated in the manual of each federation. There will also be two dressing rooms per discipline, two dressing rooms for coaches, a meeting room and storerooms for equipment.
Sports space for Santiago 2023
During Santiago 2023, these sports spaces will be used as a competition area, a warm-up area and a training area.
There will also be a medical area with a first-aid room, a kinesiology/physiotherapy room and a cryotherapy room.
The venue could also be adapted to the requirements of the Parapan American Games, to be used as an anti-doping control area or a weigh-in area during competitions.
As well as being a sports venue with universal accessibility, the building also has good ventilation, natural lighting and air conditioning.
Physical construction had progressed by 50% to March 17, 2023 and the venue is expected to be handed over in September.