Around 3,000 young athletes from all 19 departments of Santa Fe Province are competing in the provincial finals of the Santa Fe en Movimiento program in the city of Santa Fe, allowing athletes to begin utilizing part of the infrastructure built and renovated for the Santa Fe 2026 South American Games.
Provincial Finals Bring Thousands to Santa Fe Venues
Following local and departmental qualifying stages, competitors arrived in the provincial capital to contest a packed schedule across multiple venues. Participants are housed at the former South American Village located in the La Esmeralda II neighborhood, one of the spaces linked to the development of Santa Fe 2026.
The youth sports initiative is organized jointly by the Ministry of Equality and Human Development and the Ministry of Education.
Competition Schedule and Featured Disciplines
The opening provincial stage took place on August 24 and 25, featuring badminton and table tennis tournaments. The second phase ran on Monday and Tuesday, bringing together athletes for under-15 track and field, under-18 adapted track and field, under-16 adapted swimming, and under-14 3×3 basketball.
Events are distributed across six sports facilities in the city, including the Centro de Alto Rendimiento Deportivo (CARD), the ISEF N.º 27, and local sports institutions such as Kimberley Club, Banco Provincial Club, República del Oeste Club, and Macabi Club.
The calendar continues into October with two final phases. The third provincial stage is scheduled for Thursday, October 1, and Friday, October 2, featuring under-14 futsal across multiple venues—including the Invencible Santa Fe stadium, which previously hosted handball during the South American Games—alongside under-14 beach volleyball and beach handball. The fourth and final stage will take place on October 5 and 6, highlighting under-14 7-a-side hockey, under-14 volleyball, and adapted sports disciplines including goalball, boccia, seated volleyball, and adapted table tennis.
Securing the Legacy of Santa Fe 2026
Provincial officials emphasize that the primary objective of the program is to integrate the newly upgraded athletic venues into everyday youth sports development. The renovated track at the CARD and the Invencible Santa Fe stadium are among the facilities now open to regional competitors.
“Santa Fe en Movimiento is much more than a sports competition,” said Provincial Sports Secretary Fernando Maletti. “It is a policy that allows thousands of young people from all over the province to meet, share, and represent their towns, but fundamentally to have access to sport and everything its practice generates.”
Maletti emphasized the value of utilizing the newly modernized tournament infrastructure. “This year we have a very special opportunity because many of these young people will compete in venues that were built, renovated, or upgraded for the South American Games. It is the legacy of the Games. We want them to live that experience, get to know these facilities, and feel that they are also part of everything sport means in Santa Fe,” he said.
Educational Value and National Qualifiers
Beyond regional competition, the provincial finals serve as the qualification pathway to determine the Santa Fe delegation for the upcoming National Games, scheduled for early November in Mar del Plata.
Adrián Alurralde, provincial director of Physical Education, noted the broader social impact of the tournament calendar. “The provincial finals are very important and valuable for students because they generate spaces that promote encounters, coexistence, and the social integration of children, youth, and adults,” Alurralde stated. He also credited the organizing staff, physical education teachers, and coaches as the fundamental drivers behind the initiative’s success.
