Judges Certification Programme: Over 50 judges ramp up Pan Am preparations in Santiago (CHI)

Organizers of the 2023 Pan American Games are leaving nothing to chance and understandably so — for the first time in its 72-year history the Pan Ams will this year be hosted by Chile when the capital city Santiago plays host to the best of North, South and Central America. 

With Modern Pentathlon a fixture of the multi-sport event of the Americas, there will be so much at stake in Santiago with five men and five women clinching quota qualification places for the Paris 2024 Olympics. 

The 2023 local organising committee are as busy as the athletes preparing for festivities and they helped organise a key UIPM Judges Certification Programme course in the host city last month with almost 60 students either taking their first steps as judges or moving up a rung on the ladder.

UIPM Technical Delegate Ana Ruth Orellana (GUA) led the week-long course from June 7-11 helping oversee a group of 57 participants with 55 coming from Chile and one each from Brazil and Argentina with 26 women and 31 men taking part. 

The sole Argentine participant was a noteworthy one — former elite pentathlete Pamela Zapata continued her diligent judging journey as she achieved her JCP Level 3 Certification ahead of the 2023 Pan Am Games, which will take place from October 20 to November 5. 

UIPM Technical Delegate Ana Ruth Orellana said: “This was a really enjoyable JCP course to instruct on with so many eager and energetic participants. With nearly 60 people taking part, it was one of the biggest groups I’ve helped oversee. I want to say a big thanks to all who took part and to the local organisers.”

President of the South American Modern Pentathlon Confederation Jorge Salas OLY said: “The Pan Am Games will be rolling around very quickly and it’s exciting to see how hard organisers and the city of Santiago are working to prepare for the excitement and drama to come. 

“I extend my congratulations to all of the participants who achieved first-time or new certifications and a special word for Pamela Zapata who achieved her Level 3 in Santiago. We look forward to all of these judges helping to pull off a wonderful Pan Am Games later this year.