San Francisco de Macorís. – To the rhythm of merengue and in an atmosphere charged with patriotic symbolism, the XI National School Sports Games San Francisco 2025 were inaugurated this Thursday, an event organized by the National Institute of Physical Education (INEFI) that brings together young athletes from all over the country.
The ceremony was held at the renovated athletics track in San Francisco de Macorís, considered the crowning achievement of this edition and the first blue track in the country, which is already positioning itself as one of the main athletic facilities in the Dominican Republic.
The event was led by the Minister of the Presidency, José Ignacio Paliza, representing President Luis Abinader, and was attended by the Minister of Education, Luis Miguel De Camps; the Minister of Sports, Kelvin Cruz; as well as various national and local authorities.
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During his welcome speech, the executive director of the
INEFI, Alberto Rodríguez, thanked President Abinader for the sustained support for the strengthening of physical education and school sports, also highlighting the impact of the new works that will remain as a legacy in the Northeast region.
Among these, the renovation of the José Luis Martínez sports center in Castillo, the sports center in Villa Tapia, the Salcedo Multipurpose Center, the handball pavilion and the new lighting of the Salcedo Olympic stadium stood out. These facilities have renovated stands, modern bathrooms, synthetic surfaces, paint and innovative air conditioning systems, placing them at the level of any international sports complex.
“From today, the sport of this region and the country has first-class facilities, ready to serve our young athletes and the Dominican people,” Rodríguez said.
The opening began with the presentation of the merengue “La Fórmula Ganadora”, performed by the typical merengue artist El Blachy, followed by the traditional flag march by cadets of the Dominican Republic Army and the parade of the participating delegations.
The act included the solemn intonation of the National Anthem, the religious invocation led by Reverend Hanley Alfredo Sosa, and speeches by the authorities, including Minister De Camps. The traditional sports oath and the oath of the judges were also taken.
One of the most emotional moments was the lighting of the Olympic cauldron, with the torch carried by outstanding athletes such as David Díaz (basketball), José “El Toro” Vásquez (judo), Stanley Javier and Don Julián Javier, the latter being immortals of Dominican baseball.
The day concluded with a spectacular artistic montage produced by René Brea, which combined music, dance, and the participation of local artists, along with the official mascots of the games. The closing was in charge of the school band of Puerto Plata, winner of the first place in this year’s school marching band festival.
