If successful the officials will obtain the National Technical Official category for Para athletics which will enable them to participate in the largest multi-sport event in the Americas, scheduled for November 17 to 26.

This initiative, jointly funded by Santiago 2023 and the Chilean Paralympic Committee, will also include a second course for 25 candidates from five continents, including the Chilean candidates Evelyn Olivares and Sara Henríquez, seeking to become International Technical Officials - the highest certification for Para athletics competitions.

The courses are being given by expert lecturers from World Para Athletics - Ruth Liong from New Zealand, and David Jesset and Jon Mason from Britain.

It is hoped that the workshop can be performed once more during the first semester of 2023 to enable the certification of the 120 officials needed for the Games.

“It is one of the most important activities we have, since it will allow us to train and enable skills for the development of Paralympic sport, strengthening its structure at a country level,” said Gianna Cunazza, chief executive of Santiago 2023.

The President of the Chilean Paralympic Committee Sebastián Villavicencio added that "these courses will allow the organisation of certified competitions in Chile, aiming to include them in the world rankings, which doesn’t happen in a sufficient manner nowadays, and forces our athletes to go abroad to qualify and set their marks."

Both courses are part of joint work between the Parapan American Planning and Integration area and their "Road to Santiago" programme, the sports management and the federation services area.

Officials are due to be put to the test at the Para Athletics National Championship, scheduled for tomorrow and Sunday (December 11) at Colegio San Ignacio El Bosque.

After this date, similar courses will be offered for Cerebral Palsy Football and Wheelchair Rugby.