MOVING TRIBUTE TO LIMA 2019 VOLUNTEERS

Lima 2019 volunteers received a token of gratitude and appreciation for their invaluable contribution and work during the Pan American and Parapan American Games. Such recognition took place during the closing ceremony at the National Sports Village (VIDENA), with the packed grandstands.

A photo collage with the faces of all the volunteers was prepared and displayed as background of the VIDENA stage, as part of this token of appreciation to the volunteers, who in white and yellow uniform spent their time and generous dedication. This collage was a fair tribute to their contribution to the success of the Lima 2019 Games.

On behalf of the thousands of national and international volunteers, the 62-year-old Para swimmer Liduvina Sánchez Perales and the 20-year-old Jorge Luis Farfán Vila were honored.

During the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games closing ceremony, both volunteers received one Milco statuette in gratitude for their valuable contribution to the Games which was accompanied by a heartfelt standing ovation from the attendees.

Liduvina Sánchez contracted poliomyelitis when she was one year old. She is a Para athlete that has been practicing Para swimming since she was 58 years old. She is an example of perseverance as there is nothing impossible when you have faith and you are confident. She won three bronze medals at the 2019 International Loterías Caixa Open Championships, held in Brazil.

Without a doubt, Liduvina decided to be part of the Lima 2019 volunteer Program as soon as she heard about the call. She was an enthusiastic volunteer during the Pan American and Parapan American Games and she performed different roles supporting the participating athletes.

Being a Lima 2019 volunteer has been an unforgettable experience for Liduvina, one that will remain forever in her mind as she spent time with athletes from different countries.

Another remarkable case is that of Jorge Luis Farfán Vila, a 20-year-old volunteer with an impairment, student of Communication Sciences and one of the Games’ official uniform model in the Peru Moda event last April.

Jorge Luis, who suffers from spinal muscular atrophy and uses an electric wheelchair, decided to apply as soon as he saw the call in social media and was one of the chosen ones. Being a Lima 2019 volunteer was a great life experience for him so he is grateful for the opportunity to be part of that legacy for the country.

Another anecdote he will remember forever is the talk and photograph he shared with Eve Jobs, daughter of Apple founder Steve Jobs at the Army Equestrian School in La Molina. Jobs’ young daughter seemed very thankful at that time for the role performed by the volunteers in favor of the competitors.

Liduvina and Jorge Luis are just two examples of the many examples of life, perseverance, enthusiasm and joy that the volunteers shared during their self-less service to the Lima 2019 Pan American and Parapan American Games.

VOLUNTEERS FIGURES AT THE END OF LIMA 2019

The Lima 2019 volunteer program was the biggest program of our history, in a way never seen before, with an unprecedented registration and mobilization. Training process of national and international volunteers started on October 27 last year in eight regions of the country: San Martín, Ica, Tacna, Arequipa, La Libertad, Lambayeque, Piura and Lima.

The Lima 2019 Pan American and Parapan American Games had volunteers of all ages, even seniors, and with a type of impairment. 

A total of 11,900 volunteers participated in the Pan American Games, including young people between the ages of 18 and 25, minors between 16 and 17 years old, senior citizens, volunteers with an impairment, as well as men and women from different parts of the world such as Argentina, Brazil and the United States that came to Peru to offer their self-less and ad honorem support.

As for the Parapan American Games, the figure was 5900 volunteers, distributed throughout the different areas and sports venues in important operational positions.

Furthermore, the volunteers with any type of impairment also provided a tremendous support, with a total of 183 volunteers, 95 women and 88 men.

With this huge legacy and massive participation of the volunteers, which has never seen before in Peru, we can conclude that the assigned mission was completed and these valuable people almost anonymously showed us that when we work together, we can accomplish great things, changing the way the society thinks.