The Tarapacá region is sending a delegation of approximately 190 participants, including 147 athletes alongside technical and support staff, to the 2026 National Finals of the Juegos Deportivos Escolares (JDE) in the Valparaíso Region, as reported by regional authorities during an official send-off ceremony.
Official Send-Off and Regional Representation
Regional authorities led by Presidential Delegate Adriana Tapia and Regional Sports Ministerial Secretary (Seremi) Felipe Pérez Contreras hosted the official farewell ceremony for the Sub-14 regional delegation, distributing official athletic gear, tracksuits, and customized equipment. According to regional coverage, the contingent encompasses competitors from Iquique, Alto Hospicio, Pozo Almonte—which features athletes in judo—and Pica, which boasts competitors in table tennis.
The delegation covers nearly every discipline on the tournament schedule, with the sole exception of road cycling. Team sports feature entries from several local educational institutions. Colegio Bajo Molle qualified in women’s basketball, while the Colegio Deportivo Técnico Profesional Elena Duvauchelle advanced in men’s basketball and women’s futsal. Escuela Patricio Lynch qualified in women’s team handball, and Colegio Hispano Británico secured spots in men’s handball, men’s futsal, and women’s volleyball. Additionally, Colegio Marista Hermano Fernando from Alto Hospicio qualified in men’s volleyball.
Logistics and Schedule for the Valparaíso Nationals
The 2026 National Finals run from September 22 to October 4 in the Valparaíso Region, operating under the official motto “Aquí empieza todo” (Here everything begins). Athletes and staff will travel via SKY airline flights from Iquique to Santiago before completing the journey to the coast by land transport, according to logistical details released during the ceremony.
Competition venues span multiple coastal and inland municipalities. Delegations will stay primarily in Viña del Mar, with supplementary tournament hubs located in Concón for volleyball and basketball, and Mantagua for cycling and chess. Events are divided into two distinct calendar blocks: the first runs from September 22 to 28, and the second spans September 29 to October 4. The tournament mascot is “Chunguito,” a character inspired by the marine otter (chungungo) designed by a student from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (PUCV).
Stakes and the Path to the South American School Games
Organized as the premier youth sports development platform in the country, the national tournament gathers students from numerous educational institutions nationwide across 14 sports, covering track and field, para-athletics, futsal, volleyball, cycling, judo, swimming, chess, basketball, team handball, and table tennis in both boys’ and girls’ divisions.
Regional officials emphasized the broader developmental impact of the tournament. “We have invested all our work, through the IND, to deliver the best conditions for the sports delegations to compete very well,” stated Seremi Felipe Pérez, noting that the games serve as a springboard for identifying future national athletic talent. Beyond national titles, division champions secure qualification to represent Chile at the South American School Games scheduled for December in Guayaquil, Ecuador.
Following the conclusion of the Sub-14 showcase, the Valparaíso Region will hand over hosting duties to the Biobío Region, which will stage the Juvenil National Finals in Concepción and surrounding areas from October 9 to 15.
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