Page 150 - BOOK OF THE YEAR 2024-2025
P. 150

MEET & GREET



                 PRESIDENT SANTONJA                                                                   tWith Mr.
                 ATTENDS THE PANAM                                                                    Camilo Pérez
                                                                                                      López,
                 SPORTS EXTRAORDINARY                                                                 President of
                 ASSEMBLY AND THE PAN                                                                 the South
                                                                                                      American
                 AMERICAN FITNESS AND                                                                 Olympic
                 BODYBUILDING                                                                         Committee,
                                                                                                      IOC Member
                 CHAMPIONSHIPS IN CHILE                                                               and Organizer
                                                                                                      of the Pan
                 l IFBB President Dr. Rafael Santonja visited                                         American
                 Santiago, Chile, attending with the IFBB                                             Junior Games.
                 Vice President, Mr. Eduardo Abdallah, the
                 Extraordinary Assembly of Panam Sports,
                 dedicated to electing the host city of the
                 2031 Pan American Games.
                   The election came down to two strong     With Mr. Julio
                 candidates: Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) and           César
                 Asunción (Paraguay), with Asunción being      Maglione,
                 chosen as the host city for the 2031 edition   Honorary
                 of the Games.                                Member of
                   In the days leading up to the Assembly,          the
                 President Santonja and Mr. Eduardo          International
                 Abdallah met with several Presidents of        Olympic
                 National Olympic Committees,                 Committee
                 strengthening relations and ties of             (IOC). u
                 friendship across the continent.
                   Paraguay has previously hosted major
                 IFBB events and the South American
                 Games and maintains an excellent
                 relationship with Mr. Camilo Pérez López
                 Moreira, President of the Paraguayan
                 Olympic Committee and of ODESUR (the
                 South American Sports Organization), as                                       tFrom left to right: Mr.
                 well as a member of the International                                         Juan Santiago Estrada
                                                                                               García, Secretary
                 Olympic Committee (IOC).                                                      General of the
                   A nation deeply committed to sports,                                        Nicaraguan Olympic
                 Paraguay has successfully organized World                                     Committee and
                 Championships, the South American                                             Member of the
                 Games, and most recently the Junior Pan                                       Executive Committee
                 American Games, held earlier this year in                                     of Panam Sports; IFBB
                 Asunción, demonstrating its growing role                                      President Rafael
                 as a key center for sport development in                                      Santonja; Mr. Ruperto
                 the region.                                                                   Herrera Tabío,
                                                                                               Secretary General of
                   The event was also honored by the                                           the Cuban Olympic
                 presence of Mr. José Antonio Kast,                                            Committee and
                 candidate for the Presidency of the                                           basketball legend; and
                 Government of Chile, a distinguished                                          Mr. José Quiñones,
                 national leader and strong advocate for                                       President of the Pan
                 sport and youth, who joined the                                               American Weightlifting
                 celebrations and expressed his                                                Federation.
                 appreciation for the positive values
                 promoted by Fitness and Bodybuilding.
                 President Santonja held a cordial
                 conversation with Mr. Kast, during which   Mr. José Antonio
                                                             Kast, candidate
                 they discussed future projects and                 for the
                 opportunities for the further development    Presidency of
                 of sport and fitness in Chile.             the Government
                   Following the Panam Sports Assembly,           of Chile,
                 President Santonja remained in Santiago       receiving the
                 to attend the Pan American Fitness and    IFBB Gold Medal,
                 Bodybuilding Championships,                  presented by
                 magnificently organized by the Chilean          President
                 Federation and the Pan American                Santonja. u
                 Confederation, which achieved record
                 participation of athletes and countries,
                 reaffirming the growth and vitality of the
                 IFBB family in the Americas.




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