The city of Rafaela has witnessed a historic occasion with the official opening of the Invencible Rafaela Velodrome, a world-class facility that will host the 13th South American Games in Santa Fe in 2026 and will serve as a legacy for the sporting development of future generations.
This is one of the main facilities built by the Government of Santa Fe for the international event. The velodrome, situated in one of the cradles of Argentine cycling, was built to the standards of the International Cycling Union (UCI).
Governor Maximiliano Pullaro presided over the ceremony, which was attended by the Minister for Public Works, Lisandro Enrico, and the Minister for Equality and Human Development, María Victoria Tejeda; the former governor and current provincial deputy Omar Perotti; the senator for the Castellanos department, Alcides Calvo; the local mayor, Leonardo Viotti; and Walter Pérez and Juan Curuchet, the pair who won the gold medal for Argentina in the Madison event at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Other officials, athletes and members of the general public also attended.
“When you step inside this velodrome, you see the sheer scale of a magnificent project, which we will be able to enjoy in the province of Santa Fe and in the city of Rafaela for a long time to come. These are projects that will remain to strengthen sport in our province,” said Pullaro.
“In Santa Fe, there is continuity in public policy”
The governor placed particular emphasis on the continuity of public policy. “Some time ago, the previous governor, Omar Perotti, together with the mayors, recognised that the Games were very important for the province. We were willing to go ahead with them because in Santa Fe there is continuity in public policy,” he stated.
Pullaro recalled that it was no easy task to secure the necessary financial, logistical and human resources, and highlighted the work of Julián Galdeano, Secretary for Institutional Relations and general coordinator of the Odesur committee. “Public investment exists, and the State not only invests but does so efficiently. It was no easy feat to meet the deadlines and standards, and moreover to achieve the level of quality demanded by the organising committee,” he said.
The governor also emphasised the importance of sport in the development of young people. “For young people to embrace a sporting culture is linked to a culture of effort, discipline and hard work; to understanding that individual effort alone is not enough, but that it is also important to be part of something bigger, such as a team,” he said.
Viotti, for his part, emphasised that “these projects will remain in the city of Rafaela; they will transform the western part of the city and have a direct impact on the lives of all Rafaela’s residents”. “These are multi-million investments which, without Governor Pullaro’s decision, would have been very difficult for the city to secure. They are projects that improve the quality of life,” he added.
The South American Flame at the Velodrome
The spirit of the South American Flame was present at the new venue: the key figures and ambassadors made a symbolic procession around the interior of the Invencible Rafaela Velodrome. Cyclist and Santa Fe 2026 ambassador Natalia Vera entered carrying the torch.
Those taking part in the ceremony included firefighter Edgardo Germán Gutscher; nurse Silvina Toledo; Falklands War veteran Carlos Tartaglia; Estela Orellana, mother of Ezequiel Mandril; and Lucas Peretti. Also present were cycling icon Norberto Capella; Yoel Vargas, representative of Rafaela’s cycling community and ambassador for the Games; Olympic champions Walter Pérez and Juan Curuchet; and sprinter Tomás Mondino.
Earlier, Pullaro and other officials switched on the countdown clock at the Portal Suramericano. The structure identifies Rafaela as one of the three official venues for the competition, alongside Rosario and the city of Santa Fe.
“A place where dreams come true”
Pérez, who was also called upon to contribute his sporting expertise to the design of the track, welcomed the opening. “Having a stadium of this calibre was something we could never have imagined, and today it is a reality. This brings us closer to other world powers, which have 10 or 12 velodromes,” he said. Curuchet, for his part, also welcomed the opening of the velodrome. “A sports venue is a place where one can learn. I only went to primary school: I started cycling at the age of 15 and sport taught me a lot,” he explained.
“That’s why these places move me, because I know what they can mean for young people. We must acknowledge that Maximiliano Pullaro has a vision of the value of sport for them, because we need these spaces so that our dreams can come true,” he said.
