CubaPLUS Magazine

In an atmosphere of joy, hospitality, and a dazzling showcase of technology, the Dominican Republic kicked off the centenary edition of the Santo Domingo 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games on Friday night.

The Félix Sánchez Olympic Stadium pulled out all the stops to honor the more than 6,000 athletes from 37 countries in a parade of nations opened by Mexico—the inaugural Central American host in 1926—and concluded by the host country, the Dominican Republic.

Moving to the beat of the music and cheered on by thousands of spectators, the delegations streamed onto the stadium track in a ceremony that showcased the cultural richness, diversity, and unifying spirit of the regional sports movement.

Cuba celebrated its legacy as a founding nation, with the popular band Havana d'Primera providing the soundtrack as the national flag was proudly carried by world triple jump star Leyanis Pérez and young prospect Yoikel Daniel Goicochea.

The entrance of local sensation Marileidy Paulino and Cristian Pinales leading the host team turned the Olympic Stadium into a cauldron of pure joy. The entire crowd stood up to dance, applaud, and proudly cheer on the Dominican delegation.

In his keynote address, José Monegro, president of the Santo Domingo 2026 Organizing Committee, emphasized the ideal of brotherhood among nations and the dedication of the athletes, calling them "the true protagonists of these Games."

Highlighting the legacy of the multi-sport event and evoking its history, Centro Caribe Sports President Luis Mejía emphasized that the Central American and Caribbean Games bring together a century of shared dreams, collective effort, and friendship among nations, serving as a celebration of unity, integration, solidarity, and hope.

He also praised the Dominican Republic's historical contributions to regional sports, noting that this marks the third time the country has hosted the event, following the Santo Domingo Games in 1974 and Santiago de los Caballeros in 1986.

From the presidential suite, Dominican President Luis Abinader officially declared the XXV Central American and Caribbean Games Santo Domingo 2026 open.

Themed "The Historic Games," the three-hour-plus gala kicked off with a spectacular show of hundreds of drones illuminating the capital's sky. In the stands, spectators held up LED lights, adding vibrant colors to an artistic display worthy of a sporting celebration with a century of history.

One of the most thrilling and highly anticipated moments was kept closely guarded under wraps until the very end, when Dominican track-and-field legend Félix Sánchez received the torch to light the cauldron—an immortal moment met with a thunderous ovation from the crowd.

Santo Domingo 2026 has fully delivered on its organizational commitments. Over the next 16 days, the city will serve as the epicenter of a Central American and Caribbean Games designed to celebrate not only athletic excellence, but also unity, solidarity, and the power of sport as an instrument for peace, friendship, and development.

(Taken from Prensa Latina)