Ñuble Names 139 Athletes for the 2026 Araucanía Games
One hundred thirty-nine athletes will represent the Ñuble region at the upcoming Juegos Binacionales de la Araucanía, officials announced during a presentation ceremony at the Aula Magna of the Universidad del Bío-Bío. The binational youth tournament runs from October 25 to 31, 2026, in Chile’s Los Ríos Region, bringing together competitors from both sides of the Andes.
Regional Seremi of Sport Alfonso Millar highlighted the importance of the event, noting that over 700 participants competed in regional selection stages to secure their spots. ‘This reflects a growing commitment to youth athletics as a pillar of healthy development,’ he said, highlighting the tournament’s role in fostering competitive spirit across the region.
Eight Sports Spread Across Four Host Communes in Los Ríos
The Ñuble delegation will compete in eight disciplines, with separate male and female categories in each. The sports include basketball, swimming, athletics, volleyball, judo, football, cycling, and table tennis. Competitions will take place in four distinct hubs: Valdivia, Panguipulli, Futrono, and the joint communes of Río Bueno and La Unión.
Valdivia, the primary hub, will host athletics, swimming, football, volleyball, and basketball. Panguipulli will focus on judo, Futrono on table tennis, and Río Bueno-La Unión on cycling.
Cross-Border Games Attract Over 1,000 Athletes from Chile and Argentina
This year’s edition will feature more than 1,000 young athletes from Chile’s Ñuble to Magallanes regions and Argentine provinces, making it the largest binational youth competition in the Andes. “It’s my first Games, but I’m excited to play against Argentina’s basketball teams,” said 17-year-old Tomás Salamanca, a basketball player from Ñuble.
Athens Piñero, a footballer with Ñublense, added, “As a team, we are very proud to represent an entire region.”
