Chetumal, Quintana Roo — The first edition of the Copa Quintana Roo, a national competition for war bands and flag escorts, kicked off Saturday at Parque Quintana Roo in Chetumal, bringing together 53 groups and an estimated 5,000 attendees.
The event, which aims to become one of the most important civic competitions in southeastern Mexico, features participants from across the Yucatan Peninsula and other states. During the opening ceremony at the state capital’s fairgrounds, officials highlighted the competition’s role in promoting discipline, teamwork, respect for national symbols, and civic values.
State authorities, organizers, national judges, and special guests attended the inauguration, which was led by a representative of Quintana Roo Governor Mara Lezama.
Organizer Jimmy Palomo said the Copa Quintana Roo was created to establish Chetumal as a national benchmark for such competitions and to strengthen the cultural and sporting activities related to war bands and flag escorts.
“It’s a dream come true for the capital, for Chetumal, and for Quintana Roo. An event of this magnitude hasn’t been achieved in years. The support from the state government and the municipality made this project a reality and raised it to the level it deserves,” Palomo said.
The competition includes participants aged eight and up, competing in categories for elementary, middle, high school, and open divisions, both for war bands and escorts, as well as individual and trio events.
Palomo noted that the response exceeded expectations, with 53 registered groups and an estimated 5,000 people including competitors, coaches, families, and spectators.
“From the outside, you might not see the scale of the event, but there is a whole community dedicated to war bands and escorts. This time we had participants from Quintana Roo, Campeche, Yucatan, and other states, making this first edition possible,” he said.
Palomo previously organized three editions of the Copa Titanes. The goal now is to institutionalize the Copa Quintana Roo so it grows year after year and becomes a permanent fixture on the national civic competition calendar.
In addition to the competitions, the Othon P. Blanco municipal government prepared a cultural program for attending families, featuring various performances throughout the day.
