Meet Fiu, Pan Am Games 2023 mascot who will cheer on baseball, softball events in Santiago, Chile
Baseball and softball are part of the official sports programme of the 2023 Pan Am Games, slated to take place from 20 October to 5 November in the Chilean capital.
The Santiago 2023 Pan American Games has officially revealed Fiu, the Official Mascot of the multi-sport event. Fiu was the winner of a voting process, with more than 45,000 participants. Baseball and softball are part of the official sports programme of the 2023 Pan Am Games, slated to take place from 20 October to 5 November in the Chilean capital.
Fiu, who has his own Instagram account, introduced himself through the Pan Am Games 2023 official website: “Hello, I am Fiu, the Santiago 2023 official mascot. I am a seven-coloured bird, and I was chosen to represent Chile in the Pan American and Parapan American Games. My name is given due to the sound of my singing and what you listen when I run past you -Fiuuuu-”
Fiu is inspired by the seven-colored bird (Tachuris rubrigastra) that is native to the west-central area of South America and commonly found in the wetlands of Chile.
“Wow, Fiu is such a nice bird that will show us that being small does not mean you cannot give it your best effort. For this reason, he continues to practice each of the 38 Pan American sports and 17 Parapan American sports that are part of the event’s competition program,” said Santiago 2023 Executive Director, Felipe De Pablo, according to Pan Am Sports.
Fiu’s colors represent the diversity of human beings and especially athletes, organizers say. Like athletes, every day is a new challenge for Fiu but he is always up to the test. His colors signify strength, perseverance, respect, determination, honesty, companionship and passion.
Baseball and softball are on the official sports programme of the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games. Baseball has been part of the Pan American Games since the first edition that took place at Buenos Aires 1951. At Lima 2019, Puerto Rico claimed its first-ever gold medal, defeating Canada, 6-1, in the final.
Softball has been present at the Pan Am Games since Puerto Rico 1979. USA Softball won their ninth gold medal at Lima 2019, while Argentina earned their first gold in the men’s softball event.
