Full stadiums, excitement at its peak, unconditional support for the Albiceleste, but also respect and admiration for the visiting teams. The Santa Fe 2026 festivities are unfolding in a way not seen in a long time at major sporting events on the continent.
“People from Rosario are passionate; they love sports and cheering on their national team,” Luciana Aymar tells Panam Sports.
Seven days have passed since the cauldron was lit for the 2026 Santa Fe South American Games, and if there is one thing that has stood out during this event and caught the attention of foreign delegations the most, it has been the passion and massive support of the people.
In Rosario, the stadiums and sports venues have been packed with people every single day of the event.
A clear example is the crowd that gathers daily at Parque Independencia. Dozens of schools, thousands of children and young people, and entire families make their way to the city’s green lung to be part of—and take center stage in—this South American celebration.
Given this, we ask ourselves: What is it about Argentines—and especially the people of Rosario—that makes them love sports so much and turn out in droves to watch sporting events?
To find an answer, we turned to one of the greatest icons in the history of Argentine sports: Luciana Aymar—a two-time world champion, three-time Pan American champion, and four-time Olympic medalist—who was born and raised in Rosario, Santa Fe Province.
“La Lucha,” as she’s known, was none other than the one tasked with lighting the cauldron at the opening ceremony, and she has attended many competitions to support her beloved Argentina alongside her husband, the Chilean Olympic tennis champion Fernando González.
“People from Rosario come from a sporting tradition. You go to the clubs, and they’re always full of people playing sports, so we’re really excited to have the South American Games here in the city. And well, I see people happy—as you say—I see the stadiums packed with people coming to watch sports and cheering on the athletes. So, I’m just very proud of the people here and how they get excited about sports,” says the world’s leading figure in Argentine field hockey with pride.
What does it mean to you to have the South American Games here in your city?
It just makes me so happy. Rosario has been hosting certain sporting events. I had the chance to play in a World Cup here, which left me with so many wonderful memories. And this is like going back to those days, to that time in 2010. Being here brings back so many memories. And I just love all the infrastructure they’ve built. Honestly, I never would have imagined experiencing all of this, so I’m happy.
And I imagine you must be proud to have been the one who lit the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony…
Yes, well, it fell to me, but there were also a lot of other athletes who could have had that opportunity—to be in that spot lighting the cauldron. So, I’m just happy they invited me, happy to have been there at that moment. It was powerful because, of course, suddenly there was a profound silence, but that moment is unique for an athlete because it’s as if the dreams of all the athletes about to compete are being ignited. So I was proud to be there.
