The Mérida Social Reintegration Center (Cereso) in Yucatán, Mexico, is set to host its own version of the Olympics. This event was unable to take place in 2020 due to the global Covid-19 pandemic, but it is now making a comeback for its 5th edition, running from July 25 to August 11.

After an 8-year hiatus, these unique Olympic Games are being revived as part of an initiative by Governor Mauricio Vila Dosal. The aim is to create environments that foster healthy interactions, promote sports and good habits, and reinforce values such as respect, teamwork, and companionship. This is all geared towards aiding the social reintegration of those who are incarcerated.

More than 500 inmates, both men and women, will participate in this multidisciplinary sporting event. The games are modeled after the Paris 2024 Olympics and remain a distinctive activity within the country's prison system.

The director of Cereso in Mérida, Francisco Javier Brito Herrera, revealed details of the event. The official mascot will be “Solethó” (a T’oh bird), which was selected through an internal contest judged by a local graphic design school.

Brito Herrera announced that 20 countries will be represented, including the United States, England, China, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, Australia, Sweden, Finland, Netherlands, South Korea, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Spain, Morocco, Colombia, Switzerland, and Mexico.

The inmates will compete in 11 different sports, including athletics, badminton, basketball, 3×3 basketball, tennis, table tennis, indoor volleyball, beach volleyball, soccer, weightlifting, and breaking (also known as breakdance) – a new sport included in the Paris 2024 Olympics. Athletics will include events ranging from 100 to 1,500 meters, 110 meter hurdles, 4×100 relay, long jump, triple jump, shot put, discus throw, and a 5-kilometer walk.

Brito Herrera emphasized that this event, much like the World Cup, is eagerly anticipated within the prison community. He stressed that the games, backed by Governor Mauricio Vila and Secretary General of Government, Maria Fritz, encourage participants to strive for their best while contributing to their social reintegration through positive and healthy activities.

This will be the fifth time that the Mérida prison has held its own Olympics, following in the footsteps of Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, London 2012, and Brazil 2016. The opening ceremony is scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday, July 25.