The inaugural ceremony of the Youth Parapan American Games Chile 2025, scheduled for Friday night October 31 at the south esplanade of Estadio Nacional, was postponed due to an intense electrical storm in the Metropolitana Region. The decision prioritized the safety of athletes, public, and participating artists. Organizers will evaluate holding the event in the shortest possible time.
The Youth Parapan American Games Chile 2025 started on Friday October 31 and will run until Sunday November 9, with venues in the Metropolitana, Valparaíso, and O’Higgins regions. Over 900 athletes from 27 countries are competing in 13 disciplines, including boccia, blind football, goalball, wheelchair basketball, judo, athletics, swimming, powerlifting, table tennis, wheelchair tennis, sitting volleyball, and para archery.
The Dirección Meteorológica de Chile (DMC) issued an alert for electrical storms in the valleys of the Metropolitana and O’Higgins regions, from Friday afternoon until early Saturday November 1, 2025. This event, caused by an atmospheric instability system, includes isolated precipitations and electrical discharges, with greatest intensity in the Friday afternoon and night. The DMC warned of risks in urban, rural, and precordilleran areas, a common spring occurrence due to rising temperatures and humidity.
Sports Minister Jaime Pizarro explained the postponement on radio ADN: “Rain is one element. However, the big problem is that there are thunder and lightning over the stadium. For safety reasons, the ceremony must be modified. We need to act preventively. The protocol for these situations requires it.” Pizarro recalled a similar suspension in Peñalolén during the 2023 Parapan American Games due to storms in para archery.
Team ParaChile aims to surpass its Bogotá 2023 record of 10 gold medals, 11 silver, and 8 bronze (29 total). Its best performance was in São Paulo 2017, placing 5th with 14 golds, 10 silvers, and 4 bronzes (28 total).