With the participation of more than 2,000 athletes from the region and close to 15,000 spectators, the VI edition of the Central American and Caribbean School Games Venezuela 2023 was inaugurated this Friday at the José Beracasa Gymnasium of the United Nations Park, located in the Libertador municipality, west of the city of Caracas.
The Dominican delegation, composed of 120 people, including 92 athletes, 55 men and 37 women, was led by flag bearers Vanessa Corporán, taekwondo athlete, and Ramón Vila, table tennis player, accompanied by Juan Vila, Vice Minister of Sports, representing Minister Francisco Camacho; Rafael (Cuchito) Pérez, head of mission, as well as athletes, coaches and other members of the technical team.
The ceremony began shortly after 4:00 pm, the same time in the Dominican Republic, with a cultural show that highlighted the geography of this Bolivarian nation.
As part of the link between culture and sport, a total of 250 dancers danced in the center of the facility, while a screen projected images of Venezuelan tourist destinations.
Afterwards, the parade began, which was opened by the Bonairean delegation followed by the other 9 nations, which with a total of 2,000 young people between 15 and 17 years of age, will compete in 12 sports disciplines, to win one of the 908 medals, 267 gold, the same amount of silver and 374 bronze, to be distributed during the development of these games.
The venues and sports disciplines will be divided between the Brigido Iriarte Stadium (athletics); at the headquarters of the Venezuelan Olympic Committee (chess); 3×3 basketball and wrestling will share the same schedule at the José Beracasa Gymnasium, while judo and karate will be staged at the National Judo Center.
Delivering the keynote address at the opening ceremony, the Minister of People’s Power for Sport, Mervin Maldonado, thanked the participating countries for their presence at the international event.
“Thanks to all the countries of the region for supporting us, as always, we will do the best job as a nation to make them a total success,” Maldonado said.
Source: presidencia.gov.do
