El Salvador has officially handed over the national flag to its delegation representing the nation at the Codicader Secondary Level Central American Student Games 2026. Held in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, from September 4 to 13, the regional tournament serves as a key platform for promoting discipline, respect, and healthy competition among young athletes across Central America.
The Salvadoran delegation comprises 502 individuals, including 342 student-athletes (164 women and 178 men) alongside coaches, delegates, and referees. Competing across all 20 sports disciplines—ranging from athletics, basketball, and soccer to chess, martial arts, and swimming—the contingent represents the country’s comprehensive commitment to athletic development at the school level.
During the official ceremony, INDES President René Martínez emphasized that the athletes carry both the pride and trust of the nation. He encouraged the student-athletes to embrace the experience, build lasting international relationships, and look beyond borders, remarking that “today you do not only receive a flag, but the trust and pride of an entire country.”
Reflecting a broader strategy to strengthen youth athletics, the national sports initiative backed by President Nayib Bukele’s administration aims to establish highly competitive frameworks closer to educational centers. Minister of Education Karla Trigueros reinforced this message of unity and ambition, noting that when young athletes carry the national banner into international competition, “they also carry dreams, hopes, and an entire country that stands united.”