Games-Santiago finally gets moment in Pan Am Games spotlight

SANTIAGO : After several failed bids Santiago will finally get its long-awaited chance to stage the Pan American Games and prove Chile is up to the challenge of hosting its biggest sporting event since the 1962 World Cup.

Twice before Santiago had been awarded hosting rights (1975 and 1987) but withdrew both times due to financial and political issues and was only given a third shot when it was the last bid standing after Buenos Aires, the only other contender for the 2023 Games, pulled out.

Santiago also lost out to Lima in voting for the 2019 Games.

As the country wrestles with a stagnant economy and crushing inflation, the Chilean capital will this time deliver as promised but only just as bulldozers pushed around mountains of debris and crews worked feverishly laying cables around the 47,000-seat Estadio Nacional ahead of Friday's opening ceremonies.

While the renovated stadium will provide the setting for a national celebration, the ground also comes with a dark history the scene of killings and torture during a bloody 1973 coup d’etat.

In the lead-up to the Games, President Gabriel Boric moved on sporting minister in March amid criticism that projects related to the Pan Ams were facing significant delays.

Days before the Games were scheduled to begin, delegations from Brazil, Argentina and the United states had to leave the athletes village due to water leakage.

A main break caused a significant drop in water in Olympic pool in the aquatic centre, but the national sporting institute says it has been resolved.

The show must go on and officials have guaranteed a dazzling production to open the Oct. 20 to Nov. 5 multi-sport competition in which nearly 7,000 athletes from 41 countries will compete in 39 sports, several of