I Love Chile Weekly Magazine | Page 13

SPORTS NEWS CHILE PREPARES FOR THEIR FIRST SOCCER TOURNAMENT OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES By ALEXA RENFROE CHILE PREPARES FOR THE FIRST COPA AMERICANA OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES THAT IS SET TO TAKE PLACE IN JULY. CHILE — The indigenous, or aboriginal population of Latin America refers to the people who originated here, in other words, they are native. Although a lot of native people are now mixed into different cultures, many Chileans are descendants of the Mapuche tribe. The teams selected to take part in the Copa Americana were chosen by a group of ministers including Heraldo Muñoz, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Marcos Barraza, Minister of Social Development; Ernesto Ottone, Minister of Culture; and Natalia Riffo, Minister of Sports. With many countries planning on participating, the ministers hope the event will promote diversity and acceptance of different cultures. “As part of the National Council of Culture and the Arts, we believe this tournament will be a success, because it is related to inclusion, the recognition of diversity, and the importance for Chile and the guest countries to understand we are a mestizo society. We seek to leave aside all existing differences, ” said Ernesto Ottone, Minister of Culture. “We are mestizos, we are indigenous, we are original people. This diversity enriches us, and we want to highlight that characteristic in a very special way,” Heraldo Muñoz added. This event will be held at a continental level, with national teams from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, and Perú. Santiago and Arica will welcome the teams at the start of the tournament in July. Although there are soccer powerhouses competing in the sporting event, the Chilean team has Mapuche members that received third place in the National Football Championship of Original Peoples. The Chilean team will also have backup players from Aymara and Rapa Nui teams. The minister’s draw concluded that Group A of the bracket will include teams from Chile, Perú, Paraguay and Mexico. Group B will include teams from Argentina, Colombia, and Bolivia. 13