“Santiago 2023 is going to be a festival of sports, tourism and culture like no other that has taken place in our country”

2022 was a year of a lot of movement and many challenges for the Sports Ministry. The maelstrom is far from over, as we are now counting down to the most important sporting challenge in our history: the Santiago 2023 Pan American and Parapan American Games. 

Sports Minister Alexandra Benado told us how the country is preparing for the Pan American event, what are the challenges for the country’s sports infrastructure, and provided details of Chile’s bid to host the 2030 World Cup, along with Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. 

- It has been months of hard work. What assessment do you make of your work to date?  

- A very positive one, making progress on the issues that we have committed to as a government. Firstly, we have been all over Chile, getting to know the reality of sport throughout the country, and seeing how we can improve the lives of the Chilean people. On November 15, I was in Río Bueno announcing the plan to improve sports infrastructure in schools, which is a commitment of President Gabriel Boric. The idea is to invest in different schools and colleges in the country in a decentralized manner, several of them located in rural areas. Investing in infrastructure and safeguarding sports spaces within educational communities helps us promote a sporting culture and quality of life from an early age. 

Secondly, we have a huge challenge regarding the Santiago 2023 Pan American and Parapan American Games. We are very happy to hold games that are state-organized and of world-class excellence, so that our athletes and those from all over the continent can compete in this festival of sports that will take place in Chile, and everybody can enjoy this event as a space for all of America to come together. 

- What are the great sporting achievements that you would highlight this year? 

- There have been a lot of milestones to highlight in many disciplines. The historic qualification of our women’s and men’s teams to the field hockey world cups, as well as the participation of the ‘Diablas’ (Devils) women’s hockey team in their world cup, where they had an excellent debut; the historic qualification of the ‘Condors’ men’s team to the rugby world cup; the two speed skating medals at the World Games; the great performances in the Asunción South American Games; the Bolivarian Games and the Rosario South American Youth Games; Team Para Chile’s seven medals at the St. Louis World Para Powerlifting Parapan American Open Championships; the first medal in our country’s history in a Deaflympics. And that is just to name a few achievements. 

- What did you think of Chile’s participation in the past South American Games, taking into account that this event is undoubtedly a good preview for the next Pan American Games? 

- It was an excellent performance that gives us a great feeling for Santiago 2023. We took a delegation with a record number of athletes of both sexes, which achieved excellent results after years of hard work. Several disciplines also showed great progress in their competitiveness, the result of excellent joint work between the federations, the National Sports Institute (IND) and the ministry. The gold medal for the ‘Diablas’ against Argentina, the extraordinary performance of our athletes in rowing, table tennis, karate and water skiing, the impressive dominance of Yasmani Acosta in his category, the all-Chilean final in women’s fencing with two young athletes the protagonists. All these milestones are signs of growth and that makes all of us at the Sports Ministry very happy. 12 years ago, when the Olympic Plan began – which is the program that provides guidelines regarding conventional high-performance sport – we had 37 gold medals less than the fourth-placed country in the standings. We have now achieved fourth place with seven medals more than Venezuela, who were fifth. This speaks highly of the work that is being done; obviously we have to keep improving, but we are on the right track. 

- You already mentioned that without a doubt the greatest challenge ahead will be the Santiago 2023 Pan American and Parapan American Games. We are talking about the most important multi-sport event in the history of Chile… 

- That’s right. Let’s remind ourselves that about 9,000 athletes from 41 countries will attend Santiago 2023. They will compete in 39 Pan American and 17 Parapan American disciplines, and several of them will be qualifiers for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. We hope this event will be watched by around one million people across the 42 venues, both in Santiago and throughout Chile, and that it will reach about 200 million viewers on television. Therefore, in a little less than a year, I invite the public to dive in and experience these games. It will be a unique opportunity for the Chilean people to witness top-level sports. 

- And how is the infrastructure coming along for Santiago 2023? 

- I appreciate the question, because I want to be very clear: infrastructure construction for Santiago 2023 is on track according to our planning, which means that the event will take place on time. On November 29, we received confirmation for the National Stadium Aquatic Center from the comptroller, which will allow us to fully concentrate on the construction of the venue. I want to thank the huge work carried out by officials from the Sports Ministry and the National Sports Institute (IND), who have worked hard to meet very demanding deadlines. 

- What do you think the goal should be for Chilean athletes at the event? Maybe go up the medal table… 

- The main goal, beyond the medals to be won, is that our athletes enjoy this historic event to the fullest and also that the whole of Chile gets involved in the games. They are not only about sports, but also a window to show off the best of our country. Santiago 2023 is going to be a festival of sports, tourism and culture like no other that has taken place in our country. We are working hard to consolidate a legacy that goes beyond the material: that each child happily experiences sport; that every Chilean values our athletes and their hard work; and, of course, that each of our representatives in all disciplines feels that their effort has the absolute support of the whole country. 

- Minister, this year we experienced many acts of violence in stadiums. How should football teams work and what role can Government play in solving this problem? 

- The Government must work together with all stakeholders to solve the problems in the country, but responsibility must be shared and each of us must assume our specific role. As Sports Minister, my main concern is that athletes do not feel threatened or attacked in carrying out their profession. We will not allow this to happen and we will demand that those concerned – like the clubs responsible for organizing matches every weekend – improve security measures inside stadiums.  

- How are you working to take sports and improve infrastructure throughout the country? 

- Sports infrastructure is more than just money and materials. One of the things that President Gabriel Boric has communicated to us is that reaching the most vulnerable schools with announcements can change people’s quality of life through sport. I have visited Santa Juana, Río Bueno, rural areas where the sports field or gym are not only there for physical education classes, but are spaces for the community to come together. That is where we feel that we can be transformative and leave an important mark on children in areas far from urban centers. 

- Our government is supporting the candidacy to host the 2030 World Cup alongside three other countries. How important is this and how likely is it that we are chosen? 

- It is hugely important that Chile leads a bid to organize the World Cup alongside Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. As a continent we have a legitimate desire, because the contribution that our continent has made to sport is unique and invaluable. Nobody can imagine the football we know and love today without thinking about South America and its footballers. That is why we are convinced that we will put together a great bid, which will be responsible, austere and with a clear focus on human rights and inclusion.