"Minister Pizarro… Maestro… let’s hope that the Pan American and Parapan American Games will a continental party in which the whole Chilean country feels included and that this enthusiasm goes through not every place that will serve as venue, but also through the rest of the country," Boric told him during the ceremony of inauguration at the Palacio de la Moneda, the Presidential office in Santiago. 

In common with the great German player Franz Beckenbauer, Pizarro was  known as "The Kaiser" during his playing career.

He captained Colo Colo to their 1991 Copa Libertadores final victory over Olimpia of Paraguay, the only Chilean side to win the trophy.

He also made 53 appearances for Chile and was a member of the side which reached the final of the Copa America in 1987.

As a coach, he led Colo Colo to the national title in 2002 even though the club was in financial crisis.

Later, he was sports undersecretary and general director of the National Sports Institute, and development director and chief executive for La Araucana, a culture and sports corporation.

The Santiago 2023 Pan American Games are set to open on October 20.