The 93-year-old Lucy Lopez, winner of the women's high jump silver medal at the inaugural Pan American Games at Buenos Aries in 1951, walked arms linked with Chile's first Olympic gold medallists, tennis stars Nicolas Massu and Fernando Gonzalez to light the Cauldron.

The Cauldron had been placed on a stage which formed a stylised representation of a map of Chile.

Despite her age, Lopez is set to take part in the Santiago 2023 Games as a volunteer.

The lights had been lowered as the Flame was brought into the stadium by five-time Olympic swimmer Kristel Köbrich, winner of the the first of five Pan American Games medals 20-years-ago and who had won the 800 metres freestyle gold at the 2011 Games in Guadalajara.

Kobrich carried the Torch through a "tunnel of memory" and beneath a sign which translated as, "A people without memory is a people without future."

It was a reminder that 50 years ago, the stadium had been used for the internment of prisoners after the military coup which brought hard line dictator Augusto Pinochet to power in Chile.

Pinochet was head of Chile’s military Government until 1990.

During his dictatorial reign tens of thousands of opponents of his regime were tortured.

The Games were opened by Chile's President Gabriel Boric.

He had earlier held his nephew in his arms whilst watching the parade, alongside International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach.

"With a lot of pride and joy, I declare these 19th Pan American and Parapan American Games officially inaugurated," Boric said.

A parade of the 41 participating nations had been led by Argentina, host nation of those first Pan American Games in 1951.

Spectators responded to the arrival of the teams by waving flashlights on their mobile devices in unison before the entry of the host nation Chile to a huge welcome from a crowd of some 35,000.

Pan Am Sports President Neven Ilic greeted the competing teams.

"You cannot imagine the pride I feel to be Chilean and have the privilege of being here today to inaugurate the greatest Games of the Americas here in my country," Ilic told the crowd.

"Dear athletes, this celebration is for you. It’s a tribute to your values, to the work you show us every day. 

"The truth is we’ve always admired you because you dream, we’ve admired you because your capable of working hard, of winning and losing, but you know that in life, those who work hard are also the ones who succeed."

Cyclist Catalina Soto took the the oath on behalf of the athletes, tennis coach Patricio Cornejo and gymnastics coach Pamela Salazar took part on behalf of the coaches and athletes' entourage and officials Italo Barratini from weightlifting and fencing’s Alejandra Munoz represented judges and officials.

The Ceremony began and ended with music and dance after actress Amparo Noguera spoke a monologue to introduce Chile to the international audience watching on television.

The Antumapu folkloric ballet moved  to the accompaniment of pan pipes and were followed by the Rapanui Mana Ma Ohi dancers  from Chile’s Easter Island in the Pacific.

There was a Tumbre Africhileno, reflecting rich and diverse musical influences with performers in white costumes emblazoned with the red, gold green and black colours familiar in both Africa and the Caribbean.

Then came a traditional Cueca, considered the national dance of Chile, from the Bafopal folkloric ballet and the Senderos cultural group.

The Estrella de Chile dance troupe with dancers performed in costumes representing birds native to the host nation, including flamingo, penguin and the multi coloured rush tyrant which has been adopted as  the official Santiago 2023 Fiu. 

Chllean groups Los Tres and alternative rock band Los Bunkers also performed before the grand finale.

Colombian singing superstar Sebastián Yatra set the seal on the evening with a performance of his biggest hits, including Tacones Rojos, before fireworks cascaded over the National Stadium.

It is expected that 7,000 athletes will compete at the Games, which are due to conclude on November 5.