Vice President Raquel Peña and Sports Minister Kelvin Cruz officially launched the 2026 University Sports Games at the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center’s Volleyball Pavilion in Santo Domingo, bringing together more than 2,300 student-athletes from 23 higher education institutions across the Dominican Republic.
Santo Domingo Event Draws Thousands of University Athletes
The opening ceremony marked the start of a multi-sport competition spanning several installations. According to El Nuevo Diario, the tournament features more than 2,300 athletes representing 23 different universities nationwide. Competitors will vie for medals in disciplines, including chess, track and field, basketball, baseball, football, futsal, judo, karate, swimming, softball, weightlifting, taekwondo, tennis, table tennis, volleyball, and beach volleyball.
The Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo (UASD) serves as the primary hub for the competitions. Additional competitions take place at venues across Santo Domingo, including the Instituto Superior de Formación Docente Salomé Ureña (ISFODOSU), the Universidad Nacional Pedro Henríquez Ureña (UNPHU), the Naco Sports Club, Güibia and Eugenio María de Hostos parks, and the Calero Club.
Government Officials Highlight Educational Value and Growth
Sports Minister Kelvin Cruz emphasized that the event marks a substantial increase in student participation. Cruz credited President Luis Abinader and Vice President Peña for positioning the administration as allies of domestic athletics. He noted that the Ministry of Sports and Recreation (Miderec) revived the university tournament specifically to strengthen the connection between competitive sports and higher education.
Addressing the assembled student-athletes during the opening program, Vice President Raquel Peña urged competitors to maintain rigorous academic habits alongside their athletic pursuits. “Young athletes, never abandon your studies. The union of education and sports is the perfect formula for you to be good men and women for the country,” Peña said. She added that the games celebrate the discipline and talent of Dominican youth while fostering values that extend far beyond the playing field.
Institutional Leaders Praise Tournament Organization
Garibaldy Bautista, president of the Dominican Olympic Committee (COD), joined Enriquez Fernández, rector of the Universidad Dominico-Americana (UNICDA), in praising the tournament structure. Bautista commended Minister Cruz for the logistical framework and overall mounting of the competition, noting that the games provide a platform for inter-university fellowship.
A broad spectrum of national institutions entered rosters for the 2026 competition.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2026 University Sports Games
Where are the main competitions being held?
The Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo functions as the primary venue, with events also distributed across facilities like UNPHU, ISFODOSU, Club Naco, Club Calero, and parks in Santo Domingo.
How many athletes and universities are registered?
The tournament features over 2,300 student-athletes competing across 23 different higher education institutions from across the Dominican Republic.
Which sports are included in the official program?
Athletes are competing in disciplines, including basketball, baseball, football, track and field, swimming, judo, chess, and beach volleyball.
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