Patagonian Provinces Gear Up for Revamped EPADE Games 2025

Published: March 26, 2025

The Patagonian sports scene is buzzing with anticipation as preparations intensify for the 2025 EPADE Games. This year’s event promises a fresh format and expanded opportunities for young athletes across the region. The Sports secretariat is actively involved, particularly in the selection process for the women’s soccer team, aiming to build a formidable squad for the competition scheduled in La Pampa from May 15th to 18th.

Extensive Tryouts Underway

The selection process commenced this past Tuesday with a series of evaluations spanning Villa Regina,General Roca,and Cipolletti. Scouts have already assessed approximately 150 aspiring players. Today, the focus shifts to Bariloche, where players will showcase their skills at the Municipal Stadium. El Bolsón will host a similar evaluation session on Thursday. Organizers anticipate a strong turnout, with around 70 young talents expected to participate.

Next week,the evaluation tour continues,with sessions planned at the Sportsman Club de Choele Choel and the Municipal Sports Center of San Antonio oeste.These tryouts are crucial for identifying the best players to represent the province in the upcoming games.

A Look Back: Provincial Women’s Soccer Performance

The provincial women’s soccer team has a history of competitive performances in the Patagonian Games. They secured third place in 2023 and claimed the championship title in 2022. The 2024 competition was unluckily canceled, adding extra anticipation for this year’s event.

EPADE Games 2025: A New Era

Notable changes are coming to the EPADE Games this year. The Executive General Council of the Patagonian Sports Entity (EPADE) convened in Rawson in January to unify the EPADE Games and the Patagonian Integration Games, introducing a revamped competition structure. This strategic decision aims to optimize resource allocation and enhance the overall experience for participating athletes.

Decentralized Format for Cost Efficiency

The competition calendar has been considerably modified. Events will now be distributed across the six Patagonian provinces on two distinct dates,a move designed to reduce costs for each host city.This decentralized approach ensures broader regional participation and minimizes the financial burden on individual provinces.

Zonal Divisions

The provinces are divided into two zones:

• South Zone: Tierra del Fuego, santa Cruz, and Chubut
• North Zone: Río Negro, Neuquén, and La Pampa

The South Zone will hold its competitions from April 22nd to 25th, while the North Zone will compete from May 15th to 18th. All zonal competitions will occur together.

Host City Breakdown

Each province will host specific sporting disciplines:

• Tierra del Fuego: Olympic Wrestling, Taekwondo, Olympic Lifting
• Santa Cruz: Volleyball (Female & Male), Table Tennis, Para Table Tennis, Sports Climbing
• Chubut: Athletics, Basketball (Female & Male), Boccia
• Río Negro: MTB Cycling, Judo, Archery, Para Archery, Badminton, Para Badminton, 3×3 Wheelchair Basketball
• Neuquén: Para Swimming, Para Athletics, Artistic Gymnastics
• La Pampa: Swimming, Soccer (Male & Female), Tennis

Key Rule Adjustments

Several key rule adjustments have been implemented to enhance fairness and competition:

• Soccer roster Expansion: Soccer teams can now include 21 players, up from 18.
• Volleyball and Basketball Format Change: A round-robin format is proposed for volleyball and basketball,ensuring each team plays against all others.
• Disability Sports Restrictions: athletes competing in swimming are restricted from participating in athletics,and vice versa,to promote broader participation.
• Age Modifications: Age categories have been adjusted in sports like climbing and basketball.

Competition Schedule Overview

The EPADE Games are structured into two blocks:

Block 1: April 24-27

• Chubut:
  • Athletics (EPADE)
  • Female Basketball (EPADE)
  • Men’s Basketball (EPADE)
  • Boccia (Para-EPADE)
• Santa Cruz:
  • Women’s Volleyball (EPADE)
  • Male Volleyball (EPADE)
  • Table Tennis (JIP)
  • Para Table Tennis (JIP)
  • Climbing (JIP)
• Tierra del Fuego:
  • Olympic Lifting (JIP)
  • Olympic Wrestling (JIP)

Block 2: May 15-18

• Río Negro:
  • MTB Cycling (EPADE)
  • Archery (JIP)
  • Para Archery (JIP)
  • Badminton (JIP)
  • Para Badminton (JIP)
  • 3×3 Basketball (Para-EPADE)
• La Pampa:
  • Swimming (EPADE)
  • Men’s Soccer (EPADE)
  • Women’s Soccer (EPADE)
  • Tennis (JIP)
• Neuquén:
  • Para Swimming (Para-EPADE)
  • para Athletics (Para-EPADE)
  • Artistic Gymnastics (JIP)