The two wildcats represent the energy, passion and spirit of improvement of the more than 4,000 athletes who will take part in this, the most important youth sports celebration on the continent.

The President of the Republic of Paraguay, Santiago Peña, participated in the presentation ceremony.

The new era has begun! On the night of February 10th, the iconic Port of Asunción hosted the presentation of Tito and Tika, the Official Mascots of the Junior Pan American Games ASU2025.

«Today, we take another step on the path toward the games that will be a milestone for  our country. Tito and Tika represent the energy, passion, and spirit of perseverance of our athletes. We hope that people will also feel represented and welcome them with open arms,» said Camilo Pérez López Moreira, President of the Paraguayan Olympic Committee and IOC member.

An event filled with excitement, attended by the nation’s highest authorities, including the President of the Republic of Paraguay, Santiago Peña; the Minister of Sports, César Ramírez Caje; the President of the Paraguayan Olympic Committee and IOC member, Camilo Pérez López Moreira; the General Director of the ASU2025 Games, Víctor Pecci; the Deputy General Director of the ASU2025 Games, Larissa Schaerer; national athletes; members of the press; influencers; and, of course, the stars of the night—the Official Mascots.

«The Official Representatives (mascots) connect us with our essence, our wildlife, and the relentless drive of every athlete who will come to ASU2025,» said Larissa Schaerer, Deputy General Director of ASU2025.

The Official Mascots is the soul of every game—it embodies the essence, culture, and history of each host city. It serves as the cultural ambassador, bringing together the nations’ people, athletes, delegations, volunteers, and everyone who chooses to be part of the games. That is why, in every edition, we meet a unique Official Representative, one that aims to leave a lasting legacy and mark in time.Tirika, the iconic mascot of the 2022 Odesur Games and the current official representative of Team Paraguay, went into scout mode and set off to explore every corner of the country in search of new talents for ASU2025. Amid adventures, a few stumbles, and a nostalgic trip back to the Paraguayan Chaco, he hit the mark: Tito and Tika, two wildcats with the spark and attitude that only he could recognize.

His sharp feline instinct left no room for doubt—they were the chosen ones. These two are not only full of energy but also wear their jerseys with pride, bring an unstoppable enthusiasm, and have hearts already beating for the games.

Tito y Tika, the ASU2025 rookies, are the yin and yan

Tito loves to have fun, but at the same time, he’s always paying attention to everything. If something isn’t right or he sees Tika about to get into trouble, he steps in, takes charge, and makes sure their mischief doesn’t go too far. He’s responsible, careful, and knows how to restore order when things get a little out of hand.

Tika, on the other hand, doesn’t worry much about limits. She has a mischievous spark  that leads her to do unpredictable but fun things, keeping everyone on their toes, wondering what she’ll come up with next.

Both have the same physical abilities. They can practice any sport, are agile, know how to dance, and love social media.

The smallest feline of the Paraguayan Chaco

The official mascots are a reflection of that mix of cleverness, adventure, and mischief found in a characteristic animal of the Paraguayan Chaco: the Leopardus  guttulus, or wildcat, commonly known as Tiríka. This small feline inhabits rainforests, tropical and subtropical forests, ranging from sea level to 4,500 meters in altitude. Its distribution is limited to the central and eastern Neotropical regions of South America, covering countries such as Paraguay, Brazil, Bolivia, and Argentina.

The tiríka is a solitary and nocturnal animal, but it also has a considerable amount of activity during the day.

There are three species of this feline: Leopardus geoffroyi (the mascot of the Junior Pan American Games), Leopardus guttulus, and Leopardus wiedii. Unfortunately, the last two species are endangered due to illegal capture for the fur trade.

Road to ASU2025

With the presentation of its Official Mascots, ASU2025 establishes itself as an event  that goes beyond just sports. The countdown has begun, and each day brings us closer to the biggest youth sports event on the continent.

ASU2025 is already underway. From August 9th to 23rd, over 4,000 athletes from across the continent will compete in 28 sports and 42 disciplines. But before the official opening, we will feel the pulse of the games month by month, revealing key pieces of this great sporting event.