From 3 to 6 September, the event will bring together young swimmers from around the world at Parque del Sur in Santa Fe, serving as a test event for the South American Games.
Martes 12 de mayo de 2026
On Tuesday, the Governor of Santa Fe, Maximiliano Pullaro, unveiled the 2026 World Junior Open Water Championships, an international event that will be held in Argentina for the first time and will take place from 3 to 6 September at Parque del Sur in the provincial capital.
This is the seventh edition of the competition, which will be organised this time by the Provincial Government – together with the Santa Fe Swimming Federation and with the support of the Santa Fe Lottery – and will also serve as a qualifying event for the 2026 South American Games. The competition will bring together young swimmers from all five continents, cementing the province’s reputation as a venue for major sporting events.
During the presentation, held in the White Room of the Government House, Pullaro emphasised the strategic importance of public investment in sport. “Every investment we make, whether to organise events or to develop infrastructure, stems from the conviction that Santa Fe is turning a new page. For many years we were associated with violence, but we realised there were tools to change that reality and show the world that it is possible to live in peace and order,” he said.
The governor linked this transformation to a comprehensive agenda that combines security and human development. “Alongside security policies, we have begun to invest heavily in sporting activities, in supporting clubs and institutions, and in organising events that engage our young people. We want children and teenagers to find a path through sport,” he stated.
He added that, despite the difficult economic climate, the Province had chosen to keep these initiatives a priority. “We are working on the biggest sporting event in Latin America, the South American Games, where we will welcome over 5,000 athletes. Santa Fe is set to become the national capital of sport and will continue to support every athlete,” he noted.
The event was attended by the Minister for Equality and Human Development, María Victoria Tejeda; the Secretary-General, Juan Cruz Cándido; the Vice-President of the Santa Fe Lottery Social Welfare Fund, Daniel Di Lena; the Vice-President of the Chamber of Deputies, José Corral; and the Provincial Secretary for Sport, Fernando Maletti, alongside the official mascot of the South American Games, Capi, as well as swimmers and former swimmers.