A partnership between Santiago 2023 and Lotus-Balich has been finalised ©Santiago 2023

The Santiago 2023 Pan American and Parapan American Games Organising Committee has entered a partnership with event production companies Lotus and Balich to oversee the Opening and Closing Ceremonies.

Balich has experience managing Ceremonies at the last edition of the Games in Lima in 2019, the Rio 2016 Olympics and the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup, as well as the Closing Ceremony of the Sochi 2014 Paralympics.

Lotus has organised national and international music festivals, including Lollapalooza and Cirque du Soleil.

Santiago 2023 chief executive Gianna Cunazza and Lotus-Balich new business manager Martín Rivera finalised the partnership at a contract signing.

Santiago 2023 chief executive Gianna Cunazza, right, and Lotus-Balich new business manager Martín Rivera, left, signed the contract covering the Opening and Closing Ceremonies ©Santiago 2023
Santiago 2023 chief executive Gianna Cunazza, right, and Lotus-Balich new business manager Martín Rivera, left, signed the contract covering the Opening and Closing Ceremonies ©Santiago 2023

The Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos is set to serve as the main venue for the Pan American and Parapan American Games.

The Pan American Games is due to run from October 20 to November 5 this year, and the Parapan American Games from November 17 to 26.

More than 8,000 athletes are expected to participate across the two events, and organisers expect more than 100,000 tourists to visit the Chilean capital and more than 200 million people to watch the Games.

Chile has never previously staged the multi-sport event.