Pan American Games 2023 come to a close with dazzling Closing Ceremony in Santiago
The 19th Pan American Games, and first to be hosted in Chile, were officially declared closed with a sparkling display inside Estadio Bicentenario de La Florida on 5 November
The Pan American Games Santiago 2023 have officially come to a close.
After 15 days of thrilling triumph, hearting breaking defeats and Paris 2024 quota spots secured Santiago, Chile, brought the Games to an end with a dazzling display at the Closing Ceremony inside the Estadio Bicentenario de La Florida.
“What we lived was shocking: we welcome the greatest continental sports festival for the first time in Chile,” said Panam Sports president and IOC member Neven Ilic. “We managed to gather almost seven thousand athletes. We were visited by over 200 thousand people, including tourists, delegations, and communication media, who basked in an atmosphere of community, respect, and joy that made the Pan American Games an unforgettable event.”
The Soul of the Games was the theme of Sunday’s (5 November) closing with Chile’s extraordinary geography – centered around the stunning Andes mountains that have played host to this fortnight – and culture helping celebrate the successful continental multi-sport event.
Traditional Chilean rhythms, including chinchin and cueca, were integral to the presentation, as well.
“We intended to have a fluid dialogue between tradition and the contemporary through an aesthetic review that allowed us to establish this direct communication between the roots and the future,” wrote closing ceremony creative directors Valentina Varela, Martin Erazo, and Pablo Solari.
“Understanding that the closing ceremony is a festival for athletes, Chileans, and the entire continent,” the trio continued, “we have designed a show full of colour, rhythm and energy, where music is the main pillar of this celebration.”
Music – indeed – came into focus after the ceremony thanked the thousands of volunteers that made these Games possible, lowered both the Panam Sports and IOC, and handed the Games flag to the organisers of the 2027 Games set for Barranquilla, Colombia.
The musical section featured a national concert with singer and composer Joe Vasconcellos, including his 1995 hit “Las Seis.”
Then came the international concert, as the Dominican Republic’s Prince Royce commanded the stage for nearly twenty minutes, ending in a radiant firework display that served as the Games’ grande finale.