Santo Domingo.- President Luis Abinader bid farewell this Saturday to the delegations participating in the XXV Central American and Caribbean Games Santo Domingo 2026, during the closing ceremony held at the Banreservas Arena of the Virgilio Travieso Soto Sports Palace, with a message focused on Dominican hospitality, regional integration, and the bonds created between the countries during the sporting event.
The president assured that the Dominican Republic opened its doors to the athletes and delegations of the region not only as participants of an international competition, but as guests who ended up becoming part of the Dominican family.
“We Dominicans have a habit that is difficult to change: when someone enters our home, they very soon stop being a visitor and become one more member of the family,” expressed Abinader.
The ruler expressed his wish that the visitors return to their respective countries with good memories of the sports facilities, the organization, and the Dominican cities, but mainly with the affection received from the population.
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Abinader highlights unity of Central America and the Caribbean
During his speech at the Banreservas Arena, Abinader highlighted the elements that unite the participating nations and presented sport as a tool capable of strengthening regional integration.
“We are Central America. We are the Caribbean. We have different flags, different histories, and different accents, but we share much more than we sometimes remember”, he/she stated.
The president maintained that for several weeks Santo Domingo ceased to be solely the venue for a competition to become a “meeting point, a shared home, and the stage for thousands of stories of effort, sacrifice, and overcoming.”
“Friendships remain. Memories remain. Emotions remain. And one certainty remains: sport can make different peoples recognize themselves as part of the same community,” he stated.
In one of the central moments of his speech, Abinader addressed a message to the athletes, coaches, and other members of the delegations returning to their respective countries after the conclusion of Santo Domingo 2026.
“To those who are returning to their countries today, I simply say: this has been your home and it will continue to be so whenever you wish,” he expressed.
“Because whoever comes and experiences the Dominican Republic may leave, but they always take a little piece of it in their heart and leave being a little more Dominican,” he added.
The head of state also thanked the participating delegations, athletes, organizers, volunteers, and workers who made the Games possible.
Closing his speech at the Arena Banreservas of the Virgilio Travieso Soto Sports Palace, Abinader stated that although the flame of Santo Domingo 2026 is officially extinguished, it will remain alive in the thousands of hearts of those who experienced the event.
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“Long live sports! Long live Central America and the Caribbean! And long live the Dominican Republic forever!”, concluded the president.
