Valledupar, October 1, 2025. The Universidad Popular del Cesar (UPC) and the Colombian Paralympic Committee (CPC), with the participation of the Valledupar 2026 Parasuramerican Games Organization, signed a framework cooperation agreement that ratifies the commitment of both institutions with the organization of the multi-sport event that will bring together 12 countries of the continent between July 5 and 16, 2026. The agreement was signed by the rector of the UPC, Rober Romero Ramírez, and the president of the CPC, José Aldiver García, with the accompaniment of the director of the Valledupar 2026 Parasuramerican Games, Élmer Jiménez Silva.
An agreement with academic, sporting and social impact.
The agreement signed establishes a series of joint strategic actions in education, research, culture and inclusion, with the aim of strengthening Paralympic culture and projecting the Games as a city event. Among its most immediate benefits, the UPC will make available the two sports venues under its administration, where the Para Swimming, Para powelifting and Boccia competitions will be held, guaranteeing technical conditions and universal accessibility.
“Today we join this unprecedented event with all our capacity: our physical education, recreation and sports programs, tourism and hotel management, our new physiotherapy program, as well as the biomedical center and the participation of our students and teachers. The Universidad Popular del Cesar will continue to lead in terms of inclusion, contributing to the success of these Parasuramerican Games Valledupar 2026,” said the rector.
“When the academy is committed to this type of social initiatives, we achieve an articulation of understanding for the benefit of many sectors. Welcome the Universidad Popular del Cesar to the Parasuramerican Games, which every day adds more institutions and strategic allies for Paralympic sport and for an event that will be historic for the country and the continent,” said Garcia.
Scenarios for competition and academic legacy.
As part of the agreement, Para Swimming competitions will be held between July 11 and 15, 2026 at the UPC Aquatic Complex, being this the sport with the most medals at stake, with a total of 220 gold medals. Boccia, on the other hand, will take place between July 10 and 15 at the UPC Gymnastics Coliseum, with 11 gold medals in dispute and in this same infrastructure will have action the Para powerlifting, Paralympic sport that, from July 3 to 6, will deliver 23 gold medals. Both venues, managed by the University, will have universal accessibility conditions.
“This agreement allows us to join efforts with academia, so that the organization of the Parasuramerican Games Valledupar 2026 is not only a sporting challenge, but also a project of city and country that transcends social and cultural”, said Élmer Jiménez Silva, director of the games.
The partnership also contemplates the participation of students in volunteer programs, internships and professional practices linked to the organization of the Games, in addition to research projects, cultural activities and academic outreach actions.
Press coordination of the organization of the Parasuramerican Games Valledupar 2026.
