Under the motto “The Flame that Unites – Tatypype”, the inaugural ceremony became a tribute to Guaraní roots and celebrated the power of sport to bring together generations, cultures, and territories. It was an event full of symbolism, marking the spiritual start of the continent’s most important multi-sport event.
The chosen location for the lighting of the flame was no coincidence: the Jesuit Mission of the Holy Trinity of Paraná, located in the department of Itapúa and recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, provided a breathtaking setting where history and nature came together to create an unforgettable moment.
From there, the flame will begin an extensive journey across the country, passing through cities and communities until reaching Asunción, where it will light the cauldron during the opening ceremony. Along the way, the torch will travel hundreds of kilometers, carrying with it a message of peace, effort, and brotherhood.
The event was attended by prominent national and international authorities, including:
Santiago Peña, President of the Republic of Paraguay; Leticia Ocampos, First Lady; César Ramírez Caje, Minister of Sports; Angie Duarte, Minister of Tourism; Adriana Ortiz, Minister of Culture; Neven Ilic, President of Panam Sports and the IOC; Camilo Pérez López Moreira, President of the Paraguayan Olympic Committee and the IOC; and Larissa Schaerer, Director General of the ASU2025 Organizing Committee.
Also present were notable athletes, leaders of indigenous Guaraní communities, cultural ambassadors, and representatives of the Organizing Committee.
During his speech, President Santiago Peña expressed with emotion: “Today, Paraguay lights a flame that goes beyond sport. This light represents who we are: a country with history, with soul, and with a youth full of dreams. This ceremony honors our past and powerfully projects what we can build as a nation and as a region.”
For his part, the Minister of Sports, César Ramírez Caje, stated: “ASU2025 is the best platform to show the continent that Paraguay is on the move — with infrastructure, planning, talent, and values. We’re no longer just talking about events. We’re talking about legacies.”
Paraguay experienced a historic moment on Sunday, July 6th, as it lit the Pan American Flame at the awe-inspiring heritage site of the Jesuit Mission of the Holy Trinity of Paraná. The event marked the official start of the torch relay toward the II Junior Pan American Games ASU2025.
The Heart of Asunción Beats to the Rhythm of the Continent’s Greatest Sports Festival
From August 9 to 23, 2025, Asunción will be the epicenter of an unprecedented sports celebration. Young athletes from across the continent will gather to prove that the future of sport is more alive than ever. And with every entrance to the stadium, every podium, every embrace of triumph or consolation, “We Will Be Legend” will echo as a promise fulfilled.
Because these Games are not just a competition. They are a reminder that sport, like music, has the power to transform, to inspire, and to unite. And this anthem only reaffirms it: the youth of the Americas are ready to make history.
