More than 180 athletes from eight schools in Rancagua came to the athletics track at El Teniente Stadium to take part in the “Copa aniversario Colegio España”, the first athletics tournament organized thanks to the collaborative work between the educational institution and the team from the Quality of Life program of Codelco División El Teniente and its Stadium Experience initiative.

The students took part in 24 competitions on the main track, which were divided into age and gender categories. The disciplines included speed events, ball throwing, jumping and relays.

Eduardo Cárdenas, director of Colegio España and organizer, thanked the copper company for its support. “We are grateful for the opportunity to be in the most important sports venue in the region, with this infrastructure, with these implements, so that our boys and girls can participate in this competition,” he said.

The activity is part of the Codelco División El Teniente Stadium Experience program, which opens the mining company's spaces and assets to its surrounding communities through sports and healthy living.

In 2023 alone, around 10,000 residents from the communities of San Antonio, Alhué, Machalí, Doñihue, Olivar, Requínoa and Rancagua have participated in the program.

The coordinator of the El Teniente Services and Supplies Management program, Emerson Contreras, explained that “the holding of these meetings is of crucial importance for the program. In addition, it plays a fundamental role in the comprehensive development of schoolchildren in the region. Not only does it provide a platform to identify sports talent, but it also fosters cohesion and strengthens the sports community.”

Promote the development of local athletes

Athletes and companions from the Alberto Blest Gana, Pablo Garrido, José Manuel Balmaceda, Carlos Miranda, Santa Filomena, Marcela Paz and Isabel Riquelme schools arrived at the main sports venue in the O'Higgins region.

Children, young people and educators also enjoyed the sporting spectacle from the galleries of the venue. Natalia Montenegro, physical education teacher at Colegio Isabel Riquelme, explained that “we were very happy that our children could participate in athletics and in this stadium. We tried to get as many children as possible to participate and have the experience of being here.”

Francisco Fernández, a teacher at the Alberto Blest Gana School, said that “this experience fulfills several objectives, mainly sports-related, so that students can experience different sports and see other alternatives. As well as being inside the Teniente Stadium so that they can see the facilities that are available to the general public.”

The day ended with the awarding of prizes for the top three places in each individual and relay event in each category. In addition, the top three teams were awarded prizes according to the overall score.