President Bachelet: “A country cannot advance if it does not acknowledge its origins, if it cannot include all of its cultures in a common project”

President Michelle Bachelet, together with the Foreign Affairs Minister, Heraldo Muñoz, the Social Development Minister, Marcos Barraza, the acting Sports Minister, Nicole Sáez, and the Culture Minister, Ernesto Ottone, met Chile’s indigenous soccer team at La Moneda Palace. The team will be representing Chile at the Indigenous People’s Copa America, which begins later this week.

The tournament is the first major sporting event of its kind involving indigenous teams from the Americas. Highlighting the culture, values and traditions of America’s indigenous peoples, the aim is to forge closer bonds of fraternity and friendship between nations and it is hoped that this year’s groundbreaking competition will become an annual event.

President Bachelet noted that “our country’s ability to organize international sporting events and welcome tourists has been amply demonstrated, but with this event we are delighted to be pioneering a project that is one of a kind. Because we have learned that a country cannot advance if it does not acknowledge its origins, its roots; if it cannot include all of its cultures in a common project.”

Eight teams representing Chile, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Argentina, Paraguay, Peru and Mexico will compete in the Indigenous Peoples’ Copa América. The teams will play in two groups at the Canadela Stadium in Arica and at the Peñalolén Municipal Stadium in Santiago.
“Soccer has always been an important opportunity for integrating people and I am convinced that this will be the case again here. I know that our national team will bring us tremendous triumphs and joy,” President Bachelet remarked.

The national team is coached by Danilo Quinlan and captained by Germán Castro and consists of players from different indigenous peoples. It includes key players from this year’s national champions, the Mapuches, supported by players from the Aymara and Rapa Nui teams (three of each) and substitute players from other indigenous teams may take part in the event of injury.