The fire from the Bolivian citadel of Tiahuanaco was received this Friday by the president of Paraguay, Mario Abdo Benítez, in an act that extended from the country’s main airport to the streets of Asunción and served as an appetizer for the XII South American Games.
The South American torch lit up the spirits in the warm Paraguayan capital, which will host these sporting fairs for the first time in its history from October 1 to 15.
“Today we are starting this dream that we all had of being able to have some games and South American fire in our country,” declared the minister of the National Sports Secretariat, Diego Galeano, from the Silvio Pettirossi airport, located in the town of Luque and that serves the capital of the country.
In a ceremony headed by Abdo Benítez and the president of the South American Sports Organization (ODESUR), Camilo Pérez, the official stressed that with this fire the Paraguayans are already beginning “to experience Olympic fever.”
The official act gave way to the tour that the torch will carry out from this Friday through the 17 departments of the country before returning to Asunción to shine during the competitions.
On its inaugural journey, led by local athletes, the fire started from the airport and had as its first stop the headquarters of the Paraguayan Olympic Committee, which also operates in Luque, to culminate in the Complex of the National Sports Secretariat, in Asunción.
There, a musical show awaited him that brought together athletes and guests and included a fireworks show.
For tomorrow, the torch is expected to start its journey with a visit to the cities of Villa Hayes, Boquerón and Philadelphia, in the Paraguayan Chaco.
The journey will include, among others, the towns of Ciudad del Este and Encarnación -both venues of the Games- and will culminate, shortly before the opening of the competitions, in the Paraguayan capital. EFE
