JULIO CÉSAR ÁVILA: “THE LIMA 2019 PARAPAN AMERICAN GAMES HAVE BEEN THE BEST IN HISTORY”

Lima 2019 will remain in the memory of millions of spectators who enjoyed this continental event, the best Parapan American Games ever held.

The president of the Americas Paralympic Committee, Julio César Ávila Sarria said in his closing speech that the Peruvian capital was the stage of the “best Parapan American Games in history.”

“Thank you, Lima. Thank you, Peru. It was a pleasure to witness how the whole city embraced these competitions and showed up in droves at each of the sports venues to cheer on the best Para athletes of the Americas,” he said with emotion.

He also highlighted that close to 200,000 spectators attended the Lima 2019 venues, “an absolute record for a Parapan American Games.” “We were able to enjoy a warm and festive atmosphere, another example of why Peruvian fans were chosen as the best in the world,” he said.

TURNING POINT

Ávila Sarria said that the Parapan American Games represented a turning point for Para sports in the Americas.  “Lima 2019 will mark a before and after in the history of the Paralympic movement in the continent,” he pointed out.

He also referred to the legacy of the Parapan American Games sports infrastructure, which he described as magnificent and accessible sports facilities. He added that Para athletes should make the most of the facilities to train for the next Parapan American Games.

“No event has done so much to truly include people with an impairment in Peruvian society.  Thank you to the Government and the president of the Organizing Committee, Carlos Neuhaus. Thank you to the volunteers for their smiles and generosity. I hope you will remember these Games forever,” he said.

After inviting the Para athletes to train hard to compete at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games and Santiago 2023 Parapan American Games, he said: “when a Para athlete from the Americas plays, ‘We All Play.’”