In a display of regional unity and ancestral reverence, the heart of one of the Americas’ most iconic civilizations, the Teotihuacán Archaeological Zone, served as the stage this past Saturday, 11 April 2026, for the lighting of the new fire for the 25th Central American and Caribbean Games Santo Domingo 2026. The 70-minute ceremony seamlessly blended tradition and solemnity to mark the official countdown toward the regional multi-sport event.
More than 6,000 athletes from 37 participating nations will take part in the games that kick off at the Felix Sanchez Olympic Stadium on 24 July 2026 in the Dominican capital city. The games will last until 8 August.
The proceedings began at 10:30am with the presentation of the presiding officials and the protocol for flags and anthems, gathering sports authorities, government officials, and representatives from the 37 National Olympic Committees that comprise Centro Caribe Sports. The air in the “City of the Gods” was filled with a sense of history as the parade of flags and honors to the national symbols of Mexico and the Dominican Republic took place, followed by the anthem of Centro Caribe Sports.
Cultural immersion took center stage on the vast esplanade dominated by towering stone pyramids. Dozens of dancers, adorned in multicolored costumes and feathered headdresses, performed rhythmic movements evoking pre-Hispanic ceremonies. Accompanied by ancestral music, the ritual dance of the New Fire, performed by Fine Arts students, brought Mesoamerican worldview to life for the international delegation.
The climax occurred at 11:35am with the official lighting of the flame. The torch was handed to authorities, igniting the first relay along the emblematic Calzada de los Muertos (Avenue of the Dead). This symbolic initial journey included key figures from the Dominican and Mexican sports organizations following a meticulously planned official protocol.
During the event, José Monegro, president of the Santo Domingo 2026 Games’ Organizing Committee; Dominican Minister of Sports Kelvin Cruz; and National District Mayor Carolina Mejía delivered speeches highlighting the event’s significance as the starting point of the flame’s journey to Santo Domingo.
Luis Mejía Oviedo, president of Centro Caribe Sports, emphasized the symbolic dimension of lighting the fire in Teotihuacán, noting that the act represents regional unity and a commitment to the spirit of sport. He confidently asserted that the Dominican Republic will once again demonstrate its capacity as a premier host and that the 2026 Games will be a high-level event for the entire Caribbean basin.
At the conclusion of the relay, Dominican Olympic medalist and volunteer team member Gabriel Mercedes handed the flame to Mayor Carolina Mejía. As the representative of the host city, Mayor Mejía assumed custody of the torch until the formal start of its journey to the Dominican Republic, a transition representing the flame’s voyage from its ceremonial Mexican origin to its Caribbean destination.
The ceremony concluded with an official photograph, leaving behind an image where pre-Hispanic heritage and modern athleticism were fused into a single flame. The torch is set to travel across the region as a symbol of integration, identity, and hope, ahead of the opening ceremony scheduled for 24 July 2026.
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Centro Caribe Sports
DR1 News
12 April 2026