A total of 4,698 athletes from 15 countries are set to compete in the Paraguayan capital.

Of the 53 disciplines on the programme in Asunción, archery, artistic swimming, diving, open water swimming, swimming, water polo, athletics, boxing, bowling, track cycling, mountain bike, BMX race, BMX freestyle, dressage, jumping, field hockey, handball, karate, speed skating, rugby sevens, shooting, squash, table tennis, tennis, triathlon and wakeboarding will serve as qualifiers to Santiago 2023.

As a result of the high stakes, some of the continent's best athletes are expected to compete in Paraguay including Olympic and world champions.

Brazil boast three Olympic gold medallists in their 592-strong athlete delegation.

Tokyo 2020 champions Isaquias Queiroz and Ana Marcela Cunha are due to compete in canoe sprint and open water swimming, respectively, while London 2012 men's rings victor Arthur Zanetti is registered for artistic gymnastics.

BMX racer Mariana Pajón leads the Colombian team as a London 2012 and Rio de Janeiro 2016 gold medallist.

Venezuela have four Olympic medallists in the delegation with BMX freestyle's Daniel Dhers, weightlifters Julio Mayora and Keydomar Vallenilla, and boxer Yoel Finol.

Reigning Pan American Games champions in women's hockey Argentina are looking to win their fourth consecutive gold at the South American Games following a Tokyo 2020 silver medal.

Argentina are also favourites for the football tournament and will be led by Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 gold medallist Javier Mascherano as head coach.

Asunción 2022 is the first time that Paraguay is hosting the South American Games.

It is the 10^th-most successful country in the event's history with 19 gold medals, while Argentina lead the way on 884 since the first edition in Bolivian capital La Paz in 1978.