With the presence of Panama's First Lady, Maricel Cohen de Mulino, holding the torch to the music of the band of the Institutional Protection System (SPI), the flame of the South American Games was lit in Omar Park. The athletes in charge of the relay were Second Sergeant Alex Jorge (cycling), Chamar Chambers (athletics), Alexa Ortega, Cristabella Ríos, and Alison Samudo (women's football), who paved the way for the torch relay of the 2026 South American Youth Games, three days before the start of this sporting event. The director general of the games, Anamae Orillac, who began this journey with the torch from Rosario, Argentina, joyfully emphasized that Panama is ready and "A Otro Nivel" to welcome and shine a spotlight on both the athletes and the country. She extended her invitation to the public to attend the sports venues to witness the competitions over the next 13 days.
