“The South American Fire, ancestral symbol that will illuminate Paraguay in the XII South American Games Asunción 2022, the great sporting event that will allow the integration of athletes and an embrace of cultures, and that is why the symbolism of the flame is an expression that unites the Paraguay with the traditions of other peoples of this continent.

His tour began on Thursday in Bolivia, in a traditional ceremony held in remembrance of the first edition of the "Peace Games" that took place in 1978 in Bolivia.

In an ancestral ceremony, amautas or Andean wise men, lit the "South American Fire", thus reproducing an ancient fire rite that the Incas performed to the Pachamama.

After this ceremony, the torch was received at the "Silvio Pettirosi" international airport by the National Authorities and Members of the Organizing Committee, starting the official route of the "South American Fire" that will reach cities throughout the country.

The cities of Villa Hayes de Presidente Hayes and Philadelphia de Boquerón, located in the western region of the country, received the South American Fire in a formal event that was attended by authorities and athletes from the city.

The district of Villa Hay is known as "The door of the Paraguayan Chaco", currently has 69,493 inhabitants, who are mostly engaged in commercial and industrial work, as well as livestock, agriculture and finance. It is considered a very sporty city, with indoor soccer being the most practiced, from neighborhood courts to the main clubs.

Also in 2013, the first cycling club called "Villa Hayes Cycling Club" was founded with the acronym CCVH, which is a pioneer in this sport in the Chaco. And in 2016 the "Villahayense Handball Federation" was founded, with Club La Victoria being the most representative.

For its part, the district of Philadelphia has developed a specific culture, transmitted over the centuries through religion, and a productive infrastructure that gives its residents high purchasing power.

The communities of the city work with modern techniques of agricultural production, manufacture of dairy products and processing of sesame and peanuts.

Philadelphia is shown as a multicultural and multiethnic city, there are at least 5 indigenous ethnic groups, as well as residents of different origins who go about their day to day and carry out work together.

Likewise, the city of Philadelphia traditionally participates in the "Student Departmental Sports Games" (Judedes), where each year approximately 1,000 athletes from various educational institutions in the department of Boquerón are summoned to participate in said competition that lasts several days and which becomes a sports party.

Private, public and indigenous institutions from Loma Plata, Mariscal Estigarribia, Philadelphia, Neuland, Yalve Sanga, Line 32, Santa Teresita among others participate in the event.

Prosiguiendo a su travesía, el
South American fire will travel to the city of Fuerte Olimpo in the department of Alto Paraguay, and other departments throughout the country until it ends at the Defensores del Chaco Stadium where the fire will be used to light the cauldron that will start the opening ceremony of the XII South American Games Asunción 2022 that will host 7000 athletes, including officials and technical delegations.

​The XII South American Games ASU2022 will be held in our country from October 1 to 15, with the participation of 15 ODESUR member countries, which will compete in 34 sports and 53 sports disciplines.