Having a multi-sport event in the city doesn't just involve what you see on competition days. It requires months of work from hundreds of people who are part of the organization, from those who started with the idea to those who carry it out. There's also what remains for posterity.
The structure that encompasses field hockey at these historic Pan American Games for Chile is significant. Therefore, the legacy that will remain for this sport is proportional to that effort: a National Stadium Level 1 FIH - the first in the country - which promises to popularize field hockey and aims to host major international tournaments.
The adventure began in late 2022 when Alfredo Mella, a former goalkeeper of the Chilean national team, joined Santiago 2023 as Sport Manager. It was necessary to have someone who knew from the inside what this experience was about to improve it. At first, it was more administrative, but gradually, progress required more presence in what would be the home of hockey in this competition.
The synthetic fields are located in the Parque del Estado Nacional complex in the Ñuñoa commune, covering more than 60 hectares with sports facilities, green spaces, and common areas, circulation routes, among others. To make it function well, many parts must coordinate in such a massive event.
"There are several functional areas responsible for services, food and refreshments, logistics, transportation, the press. There are also architects, technology coordinators, those who organize official broadcasts, and cleaning staff. Each has its responsible person, and there are volunteers. Today, there are about 25 people working specifically in Hockey, but we must not forget the planning stage where the heads of these areas devised a plan to make everything the way it is today," Mella said, adding, "These areas also have their respective suppliers."
This is how more than a hundred people end up working in a venue with one goal: to be on time and make it last forever. The National Hockey Stadium is a pioneer in the nation with Level 1 certification from the International Federation, and the second field has Level 2 certification. The only difference between the two, as it is the same turf and structure, is the lighting capacity and some additional areas like galleries. This will allow the Federation to host truly important tournaments, such as World Cups.
The changing rooms are state-of-the-art, as are the offices for the organization and the substitute benches. There are 12 certified goals, and one of the unprecedented innovations in Latin America is the use of special machines to clean the playing surface. The smog in the city of Santiago, Chile can harm the turf, make it dirty, and pose a danger to the game. Still, this method ensures maintenance to the highest standards.
The user experience leads to a better outcome, so having a former member of the national team in the organization helps add some details from the day-to-day life of a competing team. "We have also added dressing rooms for sports equipment for the delegations, mainly for goalkeepers because I have been to tournaments where there is no room in the rooms to leave everything, so this way, they don't have to go back and forth to the Village with their bags," explained Alfredo Mella.
Days before the start of the Pan American Games, the entire city is expecting to receive nearly seven thousand athletes from 41 different countries. Hockey is one of the strong attractions in Santiago, but the story for this National Stadium is just beginning. It will continue with the Junior World Cup in November and, why not, continue dreaming big.
From October 25, with the inaugural match between the men of Canada and Brazil, a new era in Chilean hockey will begin. Around three thousand people will be able to enjoy the events live from the stands. The finals are sold out. The audience knows that the show will be attractive, and the stage, impressive.
