LIMA 2019 PRESENTS PARAPAN AMERICAN TORCH ROUTE

The celebration continues and Lima is ready for it. Five days away from the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games Opening Ceremony, the Parapan American torch relay route was presented today at noon. The torch will be ignited tomorrow at the Fortaleza de Pachacámac, signifying the official start of the international competition.

This milestone marks the beginning of the most important Para sports event of the continent, that will gather 33 countries for the first time in our country. The Flame will start its route through several of Lima’s districts on Wednesday August 21, the day after the cauldron is ignited at Fortaleza de Pachacámac during a tribute to the earth at the main pyramid of this ceremonial site.

The Relay presentation took place at noon with the presence of Carlos Neuhaus, president of COPAL; Luisa Villar, president of the National Paralympic Association of Peru; Dunia Felices, Lima 2019 ambassador and member of the national swimming team for the Games; Pedro Pablo de Vinatea, Lima 2019 ambassador and member of the national badminton team for the Games; as well as two of the best Para athletes of the Americas, Argentinian Para swimmer and one-time world champion Daniela Giménez and Brazilian Leomon Moreno, considered the best goalball player in the world.

Other Pan American medalists present were: Thalía Mallqui, Ingrid Aranda, Saida Salcedo, Oliver del Castillo, Mariano Wong and Itzel Delgado, who arrived to support our Para Athletes and to wish them the best at Lima 2019. Likewise, Gina Parker, Lima 2019 Games honorary ambassador, participated as a guest.

Carlos Neuhaus highlighted the importance of carrying out the Games in our country. “This is the continuation of the Pan American celebration. We are happy to host the Parapan Americans Games. These are as important, if not more so, than the Pan American Games, because they convey many messages. We are showing the it is possible to overcome adversities. Also, Lima 2019 will make the city more accessible. The Games will be a watershed moment for our city, ensuring that we all have the same rights,” stated the president of COPAL.

“We will start the celebration with the Parapan American Torch Relay, that will pass through the main huacas of Lima, letting us show more of our culture to the world. The same will happen with the Opening Ceremony, which will be amazing,” he added.

CHANGE IN SOCIETY

Meanwhile, Lucha Villar pointed out that the Parapan American Games will bring change to society. “Before, not many people knew about Para sports, but now we are conveying a message of inclusion. Para athletes have succeeded in overcoming their challenges and now we are working on inclusion. They are setting an example for future Para athletes. Lima 2019 will be a celebration because we will have the best Para athletes of the Americas competing for medals. This is the big change. What’s important is that the celebration continues, so we want to ask Peruvian fans to fill the stadiums. Let’s all play,” stated Villar.

Dunia Felices, one of our Lima 2019 representatives, said she was “happy to be a part of the Games. I had to train my body and improve my marks. Para sports have allowed me to empower myself, to get to know my abilities and gain experience. The Peruvian delegation is grateful for the welcome at the Parapan American Village. We are very excited, because the sports celebration continues,” stressed the Lima 2019 ambassador and torchbearer.

Likewise, Pedro Pablo de Vinatea will carry the torch once more, like he did with the Pan American Flame before it was ignited. “I enjoyed being a part of the route and I wasn’t expecting that recognition. It was very exciting and moving, and I get to relive it at my Games. I’m getting ready to bring you joy in this competition,” said the Lima 2019 ambassador.

In addition, the Argentinian Para athlete, Daniela Giménez, complimented the Games Organizing Committee. “I want to congratulate the Organizing Committee. Everything is flawless and it puts South America in the spotlight. I’m very proud to be here. These are my fourth Games and the experience is different every time. Sports are pivotal for people with an impairment, because they allow us to have physical freedom. They also enable us to make friends like Pedro Pablo (de Vinatea), who I met at the 2016 Paralympic Games. For the Argentinian Para swimmers, Lima 2019 is the tournament of the year. We are giving it our all,” she pointed out.

Leomon Moreno was thankful for “the opportunity to be part of the Games. I’m very happy to be in Lima. The Parapan American Games will make the country grow, especially Lima. This experience is magical. That’s why I tell Peruvian Para athletes that they’re not only representing their families, but also their country. That’s why so many people will cheer them on. A medal is won with effort and heart. To succeed you need to put in the effort,” stated the Brazilian Para athlete.

Afterwards, the Para athletes gave tickets to the Pan American medalists so they can be there with them at their Lima 2019 competitions. Just like the Peruvian national football team’s official fan club, “La Blanquirroja,” that cheered the Peruvian athletes on during the ceremony and promised to be there at their Lima 2019 competitions.

PARAPAN AMERICAN GAMES

It is worth noting that, a total of 1890 Para athletes (1247 men and 643 women) from 33 countries will participate in 17 sports and 18 disciplines at the Parapan American Games. The Peruvian delegation will have 139 Para athletes that will compete in 16 of the 17 sports. This is the largest delegation in the history of international events of this kind.

Competitions will take place in 14 venues from August 22 to September 1, 2019. This is the first time that Peru will organize the most important multi-sports competition of the Americas and the most significant sports event in the world after the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Parapan American Games will grant quotas for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games in 13 Para sports, which therefore guarantees the participation of Americas’ best Para athletes. The Parapan American Games are supported by the Americas Paralympic Committee (APC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).

A total of 33 countries will be present at the Parapan American Games: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Barbados, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, United States, Granada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, US Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay and Venezuela.

THIS IS THE PARAPAN AMERICAN TORCH ROUTE:

Day 1 – Wednesday 21:

On the first day of route, the Parapan American torch will start its journey at 09:20 on av. Manuel Olguín and continue along av. El Derby, then av. El Polo until the intersection with av. Primavera, and keep going until the intersection with av. San Luis, all in the district of Santiago de Surco.

Then, it will enter the district of San Borja via av. Angamos, where it will cross important streets like av. Aviación, av. Gálvez Barrenechea, Vía Expresa, av. Petit Thouars, av. Arequipa and av. Comandante Espinar until it reaches av. Santa Cruz in the district of Miraflores.

In the afternoon, it will continue along that avenue until c. 7 de junio, where it will enter Malecón Cisnero. It will then move along Malecón de la Reserva and av. Armendáriz, towards Barranco on av. Miguel Grau. It will turn left at c. Nicolás de Piérola, and continue on av. República de Panamá and av. Ramón Castilla until Paseo de la Castellana.

It will keep going until Óvalo de Higuereta, where it will enter av. Tomás Marsano until c. Domingo Orué. Then, it will turn at Paseo de la Republica until c. Domingo Elías, where it will continue along av. Arequipa, all the way to Parque Kennedy, where there will be a ceremony to celebrate the end of the first day of the route.

Day 2 – Thursday 22:

On the second day of route, the first relay for the Parapan American torch will be at Óvalo Monitor, from where it will continue on av. Javier Prado until Circunvalación, making a quick stop at Huaca San Borja, on av. Canadá. It will continue its journey along av. Pardo de Zela, av. Petit Thouars, where it will go through the Circuito Mágico del Agua. It will then enter the av. 28 de julio bypass, and advance along av. Garcilazo de la Vega, Paseo Colón, Paseo de Héroes Navales, av. Paseo de la Republica and jr. Carabaya.

From Plaza San Martin, it will go along jr. Carabaya until the Plaza Mayor of Lima, and then c. Conde de Superunda, av. Tacna, av. Garcilaso de la Vega (formerly av. Wilson), av. Uruguay, av. Venezuela, av. Arica, av. Tingo María, Plaza de la Bandera, av. Sucre, av. La Marina, av. Universitaria and av. Mariano Cornejo until Huaca Mateo Salado, where the second day of the route will conclude at around 18:00.

Day 3 – Friday 23:

On the third and last day of the route, the Parapan American torch will visit the Constitutional Province of Callao.  The journey will start at jr. Vigil, and will continue along av. Miguel Grau and av. Guardia Chalaca, going through Óvalo Saloom to then re-enter av. La Marina, av. Insurgentes, av. de los Precursores, c. Parque de las Leyendas, av. La Mar and av. Riva Agüero until reaching the Parque De las Leyendas, where the route will come to an end.

Everybody can be a part of the Lima 2019 celebration along the Parapan American torch route; you will have the chance to take photos while the torch is carried by prominent Peruvian sports figures and civil society representatives. Approximately 300 people will carry the torch all over Lima.

Photo gallery (click here)