In a ceremony held at halftime during the match between Chile and Malaysia at the National Stadium Field Hockey Sports Center, María Teresa Saldías, executive director of the Imagen de Chile Foundation, and Miguel Ángel Mujica, President of the Chilean Olympic Committee (COCH), signed this agreement, which aims to promote Chile's image through sport and, at the same time, give greater visibility to the sporting achievements of the country's representatives around the world.
Athletes: Chile's "ambassadors" to the world
Names such as Francisca Crovetto, Yasmani Acosta, Nicolás Massú, Fernando González, and Kristel Köbrich, among many others, are athletes who, through their achievements, have not only gained recognition in their respective disciplines, but have also positioned Chile's name among the elite of world sport. In this vein, this agreement seeks to formalize that representation in order to continue promoting the country's image through sport, conveying values such as effort, national pride, and excellence.
After signing the agreement, Miguel Ángel Mujica said: "Athletes are a kind of ambassador for Chile. In fact, I always tell them that they represent not only Team Chile, but also the country. And I believe that this plan being promoted by Marca Chile strengthens our position to bid for all these major international events. So we are very happy with this agreement we signed today."
In this way, athletes will carry the Chile brand with them every time they participate in global events such as the Olympic Games, Pan American Games, and World Championships, which reach audiences of millions of viewers. At the same time, the Imagen de Chile Foundation will provide support through dissemination on its digital channels, international press management, and audiovisual tools, among other means.
For her part, María Teresa Saldías said: "Without a doubt, athletes convey pride in their country when they represent it and also when they receive recognition. In Chile, we feel deeply proud of them, as they embody values such as perseverance, consistency, and effort. In addition, athletes generate identity and social cohesion, which contributes to the country's image internationally."
Chile as host of major sporting events
The fact that this signing is taking place while the Women's Junior Field Hockey World Cup is being held in Chile is no coincidence. This is because in recent years, the country has established itself as a host for major sporting events.
Without going any further, counting this competition, five international sporting events have been held in 2025: the FIBA Women's AmeriCup, the UCI Track Cycling World Championships, the Parapan American Youth Games, the FIFA U-20 World Cup, and the aforementioned Women's Junior Field Hockey World Cup. Similarly, approximately two years ago, the country hosted Santiago 2023, the most important multi-sport event on the continent.
In this regard, Mujica commented on the country's ambition to continue hosting major events: "Today we are bidding for the 2036 Summer Olympics, but also for the 2030 Youth Olympic Games. Therefore, this agreement is fundamental, because Marca Chile positively promotes the country around the world and that helps us a lot in our bid."
In this way, the country is preparing for the sporting events it will host in 2026. Specifically, the World Rugby Challenger Cup U20, the UCI Masters MTB World Championships, and the IFSC Climbing World Cup, to be held in Santiago.
