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MILITARY ATHLETES QUALIFIED FOR LIMA 2019 RECEIVE RECOGNITION
Athletes and Para athletes of the Peruvian Army, Peruvian Navy and Peruvian Air Force were recognized by the Minister of Defense.
Fifteen athletes and Para athletes, qualified for Lima 2019, were recognized by the Armed Forces of Peru at the Coliseum of the Peruvian Air Force Officers Academy, that will host one of Lima 2019 venues, the shooting range of Las Palmas Air Base.
The president of the Peruvian Military Sports Federation (FEDEMILPE), Major General FAP Moisés Barack Castro; the chief of the Joint Command of the Armed Forces of Peru, General César Astudillo Salcedo; General Commander Jorge Céliz Kuong of the Peruvian Army; Admiral Fernando Cerdán Ruiz of the Peruvian Navy and General Rodolfo García Esquerre of the Peruvian Air Force attended the ceremony led by the Minister of Defense, Jorge Moscoso Flores.
The fifteen honored athletes were: Juan Condori, Jair Mena, Tony Gialescka, Jane Vanessa Collins (Modern Pentathlon); Juan Francia, Hans Alva, Jorge Salinas (Equestrian); Natalia Correa (Rugby sevens); Ángel Adriel (Fencing); Frank Nolberto (Judo); Brianda Rivera, Liz Carrión, Kevin Altamirano (Shooting); José Luis Casas and Carlos Felipa (Para Athletics). Cadets from the three institutions of the Armed Forces of Peru also attended.
Minister Moscoso expressed his enthusiasm and recognition to athletes in his opening speech. He praised their commitment to Peru and the importance of this multi-sports event to be held in Peru for the first time.
“We are here this morning for something special: recognize the effort to prepare for high-level competitions. We are very proud of them. I’m entirely sure that they will give everything day by day to achieve their objectives and represent our country. I’d also like you to remeber this: “Only those who can see the invisible can do the impossible,” he said.
The Peruvian Military Sports Federation (FEDEMILPE), created in 1959, is a non-profit institution attached to the Ministry of Defense and recognized by the IPD. It is affiliated to the International Military Sports Council, which has 137 member nations in the world, and to the South American Sports Union, with 11 member nations in the region.
The president Moisés Barack guaranteed full support for athletes of the FEDEMILPE and the Armed Forces of Peru.
“This year, the personnel of the three Peruvian armed institutions received recognition for their effort, dedication and perseverance. Thanks to their hard training, they have qualified to be members of the national teams participating in these Games. This small but significant ceremony is a recognition to them.”
Para athlete José Luis Casas, in charge of speaking on behalf of a group of top athletes, said that we all are committed to reaching the gold for Peru in Lima 2019.
“We try to improve ourselves daily for the glory of our institutions both at a national and international level. I’d like to finish quoting the British writer Gilbert Chesterton: “The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.” We have many rivals in front of us, but we have our whole country pushing us to victory. Let’s keep moving forward all together," he said.
ABOUT LIMA 2019
The opening ceremony of the Lima 2019 Pan American Games will be held at the National Stadium in July 26, 2019. This continental event will gather 6680 athletes from 41 countries and delegations from the Americas.
There will be 17 days of competitions and ceremonies between July 26 and August 11, which will take place in 14 districts of Lima and Callao at various venues like 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 61 disciplines, in which athletes will compete for gold, silver and bronze medals. A total of 22 disciplines are qualifiers for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
The Parapan American Games will welcome 1890 Para athletes from 33 countries, who will participate in 17 sports and 18 disciplines. Competitions will take place from August 23 to September 1, 2019. Thirteen sports will be qualifiers for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.