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CECILIA TAIT LIGHTS PAN AMERICAN FLAME AT NATIONAL STADIUM
Lucha Fuentes passed the Pan American flame to the former volleyball player.
This was the moment all Peruvians and over 400 million viewers were waiting for. The lighting of the Pan American flame caught everyone’s attention as it marked the official start of the Pan American Games. This flame will light the largest multi-sport event in the continent.
The torch was lit on an replica of Machu Picchu, Peru’s main tourist attraction. Edith Noeding, who claimed the gold at the Mexico 1975 Pan American Games and participated in the Munich and Montreal Olympics was chosen as the first torchbearer of the ceremony.
Additionally, two young athletes participated in the ceremony torch relay: Romina Ariana Baltazar Miñan, who will compete in judo at 14 years old, and Carlos “Nano” Fernandez, champion at the U15 ITTF Table Tennis World Championships.
The highlight of the ceremony came when Lucha Fuentes received the torch. She won the silver medal at the San Juan 1979 Pan American Games, claimed the South American title six times and ranked 4th in at Japan 1967.
Finally, the Olympic Cauldron was lit by Cecilia Tait, called “The Golden Lefty”, on the top of the Machu Picchu replica at the National Stadium. She is one the best Peruvian volleyball players in the world, won the silver medal at the Seoul 1988 Olympic Games and is part of the Volleyball Hall of Fame. She is a sport star all Peruvians are proud of.
ABOUT LIMA 2019
The opening ceremony of the Lima 2019 Pan American Games will be held today at the National Stadium. This continental event will gather 6680 athletes from 41 countries and delegations from the Americas.
There will be 17 days of competitions and ceremonies during July 26 and August 11, which will take place in 14 districts of Lima and Callao. Some of the venues are the VIDENA, Villa María Sports Center, Callao Regional Village, Villa El Salvador Sports Center, Punta Rocas, among others.
The Lima 2019 Pan American Games will include 39 sports and 62 disciplines, in which athletes will compete for gold, silver and bronze medals. A total of 21 disciplines are qualifiers for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.