Mérida, with nine countries, is the host city of the Latin American Regional Figure Skating Championships.

Yucatán will make history in winter sports in Mexico: the Ice Gallerie ice rink will be dressed up for the coming weekend with the Third Latin American Regional Interclub Figure Skating Championship.

This is the first time Mexico will host this event (previously it was in Peru and El Salvador) and the Mexican Federation of Ice Skating and Winter Sports selected Mérida to accommodate 250 skaters from eight countries , in addition to the hosts.

The competition will take place from Thursday, October 30 to Sunday, November 2, and will feature skaters from Peru, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, and Mexico.

Early Monday, Mexican Olympian Donovan Carrillo led clinics on the Merida track, which will host competitors from age 5 to senior and Olympic levels. Donovan is the leading figure in the sport in Mexico.

Ana Luisa Aguilar Gamero, president of the Mexican Federation, highlighted the importance of coming to Mérida, “ to a safe city, with facilities like few others in the country, and with high-level skaters who are showing off during a weekend that will be historic.”

The launch of the Latin American Championship was attended by the president of the local association, Sara Moisés Chapur, as well as the directors of the Ice Gallerie rink, Beatriz Pino Macari and Elda Esquivel Millet, who spoke of "special feelings for having dozens of skaters in this home who will enjoy a great event, the facilities, and everything that Mérida and Yucatán have to offer."

The Latin American Festival will take place on Thursday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday through Sunday from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m., with free admission to all activities.

The Ice Gallerie rink is about to turn 15 , and, said Mrs. Pino Macari , "step by step, we've consolidated our position. The Federation has supported us greatly, and the fact that they chose us as the venue today fills us with pride."