SANTO DOMINGO – Dominican President Luis Abinader officially declared the 25th Central American and Caribbean Games, Santo Domingo 2026, closed on Saturday, expressing deep satisfaction with the success of the event and the spirit of unity it created across the region.
“And above all, with the joy of having experienced together a great celebration of sport and of our sister nations,” Abinader said during his closing address.
Receive breaking news alerts
Immigration, New York, Dominican Republic and investigative news delivered directly to your phone and computer.
Free — unsubscribe anytime.
In one of the ceremony’s most emotional moments, the president called on the audience to offer “applause of love and solidarity among peoples.”
“The light of the Games’ flame will remain in our hearts,” he added, visibly moved.
Abinader delivered the closing address for an event that brought together nearly 6,200 athletes from 37 countries across the region and commemorated the 100th anniversary of the first edition of the Central American and Caribbean Games, held in Mexico in 1926.
“Over these two weeks, we have not only celebrated the Games; we have celebrated talent, discipline and friendship between our peoples, as well as sport’s unique ability to remind us that we can compete with all our might and, when it is over, shake hands,” the president said.
Abinader highlighted the role Santo Domingo played during the international competition, describing the Dominican capital as much more than a host city.
“During these days, Santo Domingo—our city, the First City of the Americas—has been much more than just a host city for a competition; it has been a meeting point,” he said.
The president thanked all the delegations that traveled to the Dominican Republic to participate in the Games and expressed hope that athletes and officials would return to their countries carrying with them the warmth they experienced during their stay.
“I hope you carry the affection of our people in your hearts,” Abinader said. “We have experienced a great sporting celebration.”
The president was accompanied during the ceremony by First Lady Raquel Arbaje, Vice President Raquel Peña and other government officials and dignitaries.
Abinader also praised the performance of Dominican athletes, whose achievements throughout the Games generated widespread enthusiasm among the home crowd.
“Our athletes have made us proud with their medals and performances on the courts, in the stadiums, in the water, on the track and in other arenas,” he said.
But the president emphasized that their contribution went beyond medals and results.
He said Dominican athletes had made the country even prouder through their discipline and the dignity with which they represented the national flag throughout the competition.
Abinader said Santo Domingo 2026 would leave an important and lasting legacy for the Dominican Republic, including improved sports facilities and valuable organizational experience that could help the country host other major international sporting events in the future.
“These Games leave an important legacy for the Dominican Republic,” he said. “They leave behind facilities and the experience needed to organize major sporting events.”
For Abinader, however, one of the most significant legacies may be the inspiration the Games provided to a new generation of Dominican athletes.
He pointed to the thousands of children and young people who watched their sporting heroes compete during the event and who may now return home believing that they, too, could someday represent their country on an international stage.
Thousands of young people, he said, will leave the Games thinking: “I, too, can be there one day.”
The president also expressed his gratitude to the public servants, volunteers and sports federations whose work helped make the competition possible.
Their efforts, he said, were essential to the organization and success of an event that welcomed thousands of athletes, coaches, officials and visitors from across Central America and the Caribbean.
As his address came to an end, Abinader announced the extinguishing of the ceremonial flame that had burned throughout the Games.
The flame would go out at the venue, he said, but its meaning would remain alive in the hearts of the athletes, volunteers, organizers and spectators who had participated in Santo Domingo 2026.
With those words, the president officially brought to a close a historic edition of the Central American and Caribbean Games—one that marked a century of regional sporting competition and left the Dominican Republic with new facilities, international experience and memories of a celebration that brought together 37 nations through sport.
Comments (0)
Be the first to join the conversation.