After a year-and-a-half pause and a wait of nearly two decades to see the event return to Caribbean soil, the province of Limón becomes, as of today, the epicenter of Costa Rican sports. The XLII edition of the national games officially began this Monday, January 12.
A Celebration in the “Heart of the Port”
The historic Juan Gobán Quirós Stadium looked its finest for the opening ceremony, which began at 2:00 p.m. before a full house. The event, filled with Afro-descendant mystique and culture, celebrated not only the talent of more than 5,000 athletes from 81 cantonal committees, but also the resilience of a province that hosts the event again after 17 years of absence.
The intense competition across 29 sports disciplines, including six parasports modalities, reaffirms the inclusive character of this edition.
The organization has distributed the competitions across six cantons of the province, ensuring that the impact of the games reaches every corner of the Caribbean:
• Limón (Central Canton): Will host boxing, basketball, baseball (in the renovated Big Boy Stadium), judo, karate-do, and men’s soccer at the Juan Gobán.
• Pococí: Will host women’s soccer, taekwondo, indoor volleyball, and swimming.
• Siquirres: Will receive athletics, chess, and parasports events.
• Matina: Will host weightlifting and skating.
• Guácimo: Epicenter of handball, futsal, and table tennis.
• Talamanca: The natural setting for beach volleyball.
Legacy for Youth
Beyond the medals, the Government and ICODER have emphasized that the true victory is the material legacy. Facilities such as the Eddy Bermúdez Gymnasium — which underwent a complete renovation including accessibility systems for people with disabilities — and the new playing surfaces in local stadiums will remain at the service of Limón’s communities once the games conclude on January 24.
Security and logistics have been prioritized to avoid conflicts with the electoral climate in the country, ensuring that the focus remains on the young athletes who, starting tomorrow, Tuesday, will begin the fight for gold in the first soccer and swimming qualifiers.
