On September 18, one of the Dominican Republic’s most anticipated annual internal sports events got off to a formal start at the softball stadium of the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic (BCRD) Employees Club. Héctor Valdez Albizu, the governor of BCRD, presided over the opening ceremony of the 29th Interdepartmental Games 2026, and made a special announcement that this year’s competition is dedicated to Félix Sánchez, the two-time Olympic and world gold medalist in the 400-meter hurdles.
During his opening address, Governor Valdez Albizu emphasized the far-reaching impact of Sánchez’s contributions to Dominican sports beyond his iconic athletic achievements. Beyond claiming top honors on the world’s biggest athletic stages, Sánchez has remained deeply committed to nurturing emerging talent as a coach and mentor, working to pass down his expertise and competitive spirit to the next generation of Dominican athletes. This dedication aligns perfectly with the core values that the BCRD’s interdepartmental games seek to foster among its staff, Valdez Albizu noted.
The governor added that the annual games are a core part of the central bank’s ongoing initiatives to promote an active lifestyle, strengthen family-friendly workplace culture, and build teamwork and mutual camaraderie across different departments. Historical data from the BCRD shows that the previous iteration of the games drew participation from more than 2,000 employees, who competed across 18 distinct sports and recreational activities, reflecting the widespread popularity of the event among staff.
As part of the ceremony, organizers presented Sánchez with a custom plaque celebrating his decades-long standout sports career, as well as a special commemorative coin marking the 70th founding anniversary of the BCRD. In his acceptance remarks, Sánchez urged BCRD employees to continue preserving the tradition of the interdepartmental games and maintain the strong, positive reputation that the institution has built both within the public service and across the Dominican community.
Sánchez was joined at the opening ceremony by his wife, María Dimitrova, an accomplished karate champion in her own right. Dimitrova previously received special recognition during the BCRD’s 2019 interdepartmental games, making this year’s dedication a historic milestone: it marks the first time that a married couple has been honored in the decades-long history of the BCRD’s games, adding a unique, heartwarming layer to the 2026 opening ceremony.