Pareto Highlights Integration and Olympic Aspirations at Rosario‘s High Performance Games
Rosario recently hosted the inaugural Argentine High Performance Games, welcoming Olympic judo champion Paula “La Pequeña” Pareto as a distinguished guest. Pareto, a gold medalist at Rio 2016 and a celebrated figure in Argentine sport, expressed her enthusiasm for the event and its significance for young athletes. She notably emphasized the importance of the Games – known locally as the jadar – as a foundational experience for those aspiring to compete on the Olympic and Paralympic stage.
Pareto warmly praised the integration of athletes with and without disabilities showcased throughout the competitions. “It’s nice, it’s good,” she stated, recalling her own training experiences in judo where she regularly shared space with visually impaired athletes. She stressed that this inclusivity isn’t novel for those within the sporting community, but a valuable demonstration for the wider public. ”The important thing is that it is understood that it is not: everything is sport, each with their categories, either by weight or visibility. Everything is high performance, everything is sport and everything can be integrated.” She lauded the joint initiative of the Argentine Olympic and Paralympic Committees in hosting a unified event.
The timing of the jadar was also highlighted by Pareto, noting its importance in a year lacking other major regional competitions like the South American or Pan-American Games. She explained that the Games provide a crucial opportunity for athletes to experience the atmosphere and demands of a high-performance national event, offering a taste of what an olympic competition entails.
Reflecting on her own career, pareto expressed a wish that a similar event had been available to her earlier in her athletic journey. She recalled her first Olympic experience at Beijing 2008, following participation in South American and Pan-American Games, but admitting she lacked a full understanding of the scale and intensity of the Olympics. “For me it was like only those enlightened by a wand came [to the Olympics],” she said, suggesting the jadar can bridge that gap for future generations.
Beyond the sporting aspects, pareto also shared her fondness for Rosario, praising the city’s beauty and infrastructure. She described the facilities as “fantastic,” comparable to an olympic village, and suitable for hosting larger events like the South American Games. She also expressed a personal connection to the city’s natural spaces, particularly the river and coastline, which evoke memories of her childhood, and highlighted the Monument to the Flag as one of the country’s most beautiful landmarks.
Pareto’s visit underscored her commitment to sport as a vehicle for integration,education,and personal growth. Her presence at the jadar reinforced the event’s potential to be a pivotal step in the development of Argentine sport, offering a vital platform for aspiring athletes and promoting inclusivity within the national sporting landscape.
Fuente: Municipality of Rosario
