La Rioja withdraws from Juegos Nacionales Evita due to funding shortages

The government of La Rioja has confirmed that the province will not participate in the upcoming Juegos Nacionales Evita due to economic difficulties. Jorge Córdoba, the Secretary of Sports, Recreation, and Inclusion, stated that the province is unable to cover the necessary costs for transporting and sustaining the delegation.

The announcement has disrupted the preparation of various teams, including male and female futsal squads that were already planning to recruit athletes from the provincial interior. Córdoba noted that other provinces are facing similar budgetary constraints.

Additionally, the regional Juegos Atacalar—which involves La Rioja, Catamarca, Tucumán, Santiago del Estero, and Atacama in Chile—has been suspended. In that instance, the cancellation was communicated by the organizers in Catamarca due to economic reasons. Despite these setbacks, the province intends to proceed with qualifiers for the Juegos Urbanos Argentinos.