Opening Ceremonies of the I Special Olympics Latin America Games El Salvador 2006 A parachutist delivers the flag of the Dominican Republic to the Opening Ceremonies. [Photo by Ann L. Brueggemann] Excitement grew in Jorge Mágico González National Stadium in San Salvador on 27 March, as parachutists bearing flags of Latin America began to drop into center field. The Master of Ceremonies announced the arrival of the President and First Lady of El Salvador, accompanied by the First Ladies of Honduras and Panama, Ministers of State and VIPs. Well-known Salvadoran athletes carried the national flag into the stadium, accompanied by Games volunteers carrying the Special Olympics flag, and a great ovation rose as the Parade of Athletes from 17 nations entered the stadium, led alphabetically by the delegation from Argentina accompanied by Bruce Pasternack, President and CEO of Special Olympics. The Special Olympics Uruguay delegation prepares to join the Parade of Athletes. [Image courtesy of the official Games Web site] Steadily, the stadium's oval filled with delegations, welcomed by the applause of over 10,000 spectators, and the roar was deafening as the home team spectators greeted the delegation from El Salvador. The Special Olympics flag was raised to the music of “Quiero,” the song composed for the First Special Olympics Latin America Games. Jorge Hernández Issusi, President of INDES (El Salvador's national sports ministry) was the first to speak. “It is a source of great national pride to host these first Special Olympics Latin America Games,” he said. Timothy Shriver, Chairman of Special Olympics, charged the athletes to “show how sport can change the world…do it with vigor, strength and passion. And know that you are the best of the best.” The excitement of the Opening Ceremonies is evident from this athlete's reaction. [Image courtesy of the official Games Web site] Nino Durler, Sargent Shriver Global Messenger from El Salvador, led the athlete oath along with World Cup football stars Teófilo Cubías of Peru and Alex Aguinaga of Ecuador. Then the President of El Salvador, Elias Antonio Saca, spoke to a cheering stadium, welcoming the 17 delegations to El Salvador. “A new page is being written in the history of our country,” he said, “and the eyes of the world are on us.” After its three day journey to every department of the country, the "Flame of Hope" entered the stadium. Five athletes — from Ecuador, Honduras, Costa Rica, Guatemala and El Salvador — shared the honor of relaying the torch around the track before delivering it to Mrs. Ana Ligia de Saca, First Lady of El Salvador, who had dispatched the flame on its national circuit three days earlier. Special Olympics El Salvador's Manolo Cornejo with the "Flame of Hope." [Image courtesy of the official Games Web site] As a spotlight from a helicopter hovering above dramatically illuminated the scene, Special Olympics El Salvador's Manolo Cornejo carried the "Flame of Hope" up the long stairway to the stadium's Olympic cauldron. After a salute from President Saca, Cornejo, who competed in powerlifting, inclined the flame to light the cauldron, whereupon the President declared the Games officially open. On cue, a festive fireworks display carried the message into the night sky over San Salvador. Cabas, a popular Colombian singer and songwriter who had just completed a tour of Venezuela, Ecuador and Mexico, was delighted to be able to sing for the athletes and welcomed one on stage as he performed. He was quoted in a local newspaper as saying " It is wonderful to collaborate in such an important event; life gives us many gifts, and we have to give to others, too." [Photo by Ann L. Brueggemann] And let the show begin! Folkloric and modern dance troupes performed for the delegations and spectators, followed by a dynamic concert by Match & Daddy, Cabas, and Luis Fonsi. "It is a great honor to perform for the Opening Ceremonies of the Latin American Games. It is beautiful to see the athletes’ smiles!" said Fonsi in an interview with a local newspaper. Fonsi was one of the featured performed in the Noche de Paz concert in Los Angeles, USA in December 2005, where he was touched by the special athletes; he modified the schedule of his international tour to be present at the Regional Games. The stadium rocked as athletes, coaches and spectators alike responded to the three Latin American groups' high-powered performances which were crowned by a grand finale fireworks display concluding the memorable Opening Ceremonies.      < Return to main Latin America Regional Games page > page