Many images will remain in our memory, since that July 24, when the eighteenth edition of the Pan American Games started in the beach volleyball courts of Costa Verde San Miguel. The 6680 athletes that visited Lima 2019 left us beautiful moments of triumph and defeat that will forever carved in the memory of each person that had the chance of being part of this sport celebration of the Americas.

1. The Games opening ceremony was a reunion with our culture and national identity. The most touching moment was the participation of the tenor Juan Diego Flórez, singing live Chabuca Granda´s songs.
2. The first medal for Peru was awarded on July 27, in taekwondo – Poomsae. The silver medal for Hugo del Castillo and the medal awarded to Marcela Castillo ignited the fans at the Callao Sports Center.
3. The first gold medal for Peru was awarded on that same day. Gladys Tejeda, and Christian Pacheco right after, broke Pan American records in marathon to earn their medals.
4. Peru ended that memorable July 27 with a third gold medal, after the victory of Diego Elías in squash. In just one day, Peruvian athletes matched the best gold medal count on Pan American Games. 
5. British Virgin Islands (Chantel Malone in long jump), Grenada (Anderson Peters in javelin throw), Bolivia (in racquetball in teams), Barbados (Shane Brathwaite in 110 meters hurdles) and Paraguay (Fabrizio Zanotti in golf) won their first gold medals in the history of the Pan American Games. An indelible memory for these nations in Lima 2019. In addition, Aruba won its first medal with the bronze obtained by Mack van den Eerenbeemt in sailing.
6. Andrea Vargas became the first Costa Rican women to win a gold medal in athletics for her country. She defeated two Americans in the 100 meters hurdles event.
7. Natalia Cuglievan and Alexandra Grande won their second consecutive gold medal .in Pan American Games. They are the most prize-winning Peruvian athletes in this kind of continental events.
8. Peruvian surf took three golds in an unprecedented session in Punta Rocas. Benoit Clemente, Daniella Rosas and Luca Mesinas reached the top of the Pan American podium.                                       
9. Romantic moments. The Argentinian gymnast Federico Molinari proposes to her fiancée Paula Cancio during a live interview. In addition, Peruvian athlete Paola Mautino was surprised by her fiancé and coach, after competing in the 4x100 m event, when he approached her, a ring in his hand, to ask her to marry him.
10. Men's karate reached a milestone for Peruvian sport: four medals in four finals. The kata men’s team took the gold. Peru won three bronzes in the men’s and women’s individual kata and in the women’s team event.
11. The moving drop-off from Argentinian judoka Paula Pareto because of an injury. She fought with a back pain in Lima 2019, but she did it as a champion. However, she could not fight for the bronze and lost by walk-over.
12. In the 4x100 freestyle relay, Brazil defeated USA and completely destroyed the Pan American record at the Aquatic Center.
13. The uncontrollable crying of Brazilian Ederson Vilela at the top of the podium, after winning the 10000 m event at the athletics stadium of VIDENA. Vilela confessed that he did not think he could win this event, that his hopes were on the 5000 m event where he placed seventh.
14. Brazil won the 1500 meters swimming event, after 68 years, in Buenos Aires 1951. Guilherme Costa dominated the men’s endurance event.
15. The Brazilian women’s handball team won its fifth consecutive gold in Lima 2019 by defeating Argentina, for the third consecutive time in this kind of event.
16. Eve Jobs, Steve Jobs’ daughter, competed in the equestrian jumping event and won bronze in the individual contest. The Apple's co-founder heir was very happy with how Peru welcomed her.
17. Argentina made the podium in every group sport, except in women’s basketball. The women’s team lost its match against Colombia by W.O. because athletes were not wearing the uniform agreed at the technical meeting the day before.
18. Nathan Adrian, one of the biggest USA swimming stars, won two gold and three silver medals in Lima. The American swimmers praised the Games organization and was amazed by the five cuchimilcos he received in the podium.
19. The Mexican diver Paola Espinosa reached an amazing score in Lima 2019 by winning her fifth medal in Pan American Games, something that will be forever carved in Mexico’s sport history.

The President of the Lima 2019 Organizing Committee (COPAL), Carlos Neuhaus, and the President of Panam Sports, Neven Ilic, received from the Bellavista mayor Daniel Malpartida Filio the “Key to the City” for their remarkable contribution to the development of sports as a platform for social transformation.

In this ceremony, Carlos Neuhaus highlighted: “my work is for all athletes, who have competed against the best athletes of the Americas. They have left a mark that will allow them to continue improving and set a new record in the Pan American medal table.”

He also said that all Peruvian athletes that have represented us should help to change the approach to trust in a multi-sports culture with Olympic values that will serve as a guide for future generations.

“They should become new role models as a response to the lack of role heroes. We need the emergence of athletes, who claim Olympic values, to build a better Peru,” he emphasized.

Neven Ilic stated that Peru’s sports achievements are part of a joint commitment of all the Peruvian society as a whole. “It’s part of the teamwork led by Carlos Neuhaus. It was possible thanks to people that cheered on all athletes in the streets and turned this event into a celebration, supporting them unconditionally,” he said.

As part of this ceremony, athletes who participated in Lima 2019: Abel Herrera, Janet Mallqui, Ronald Valverde and Angello Hurtado from Callao, were honored.  Thalía Mallqui, who reached the 11th bronze medal for Peru in the 50 kg category of women’s freestyle wrestling, also received special recognition.

In this way, one day after the Lima 2019 Pan American Games Closing Ceremony, Peruvian sport is strengthened as a key that will allow better opportunities for society, through the Olympic values, building citizens committed to the development of their country.

Photo Gallery (click here)

The Jorge Chavez International Airport has become the departure point of 6680 hardened athletes coming from all over the Americas, who had outstanding participation in Lima 2019.  

The Jorge Chavez’s areas have been adequately conditioned to expeditiously receive the athletes who arrive from the Pan American Village on their way to their destinations abroad. Once they arrive at the airport, the Lima 2019 personnel will take them to the terminal to take their respective flights. Along the way, they will receive the necessary guidance and information for the transfer of their baggage, which will be loaded onto the aircraft.  

In general, no detail will be overlooked. To avoid any inconvenience, it is essential that the Lima 2019 Organizing Committee and the Lima Airport Partners work together, as they did when they received the athletes before the start of the Games, leaving a lasting impression on everyone. 

In that sense, a warm and active welcome will be given in this farewell stage, providing an Olympic-class service to all delegations. 

With this flawless farewell, Peru reaffirms its condition as host of the biggest multi-sports event in the continent, creating an atmosphere of warmth that offers international delegations a pleasant experience until the last moment of their stay in Lima, which has become the sports capital of the Americas. 

A deserved tribute. The Peruvian Congress paid tribute to the effort, discipline and dedication of the Peruvian athletes who won medals at the Lima 2019 Pan American Games in an emotional ceremony which also had the athletes’ coaches and families as guests.

Congresswoman Paloma Noceda organized this ceremony for the athletes whose achievements are a source of pride for Peru. In her speech, the former 2015 jet skiing champion highlighted the fact that Peru claimed three times as many medals at Lima 2019 than at Toronto 2015. “It means a significant improvement for sports in Peru,” she said.

Kate Harrison, Ambassador of the United Kingdom in Peru, said that the athletes’ achievements in the Games are impressive, a source of pride and an example not only for Peruvians but for many other people who followed the Games from other countries. “These 39 medals are the legacy you’ve left for many girls and boys who now want to be just like you,” she told athletes.

She also congratulated the Lima 2019 organizing team, the volunteers, and particularly President of the Organizing Committee Carlos Neuhaus, for turning Lima into the capital of sports for the last few years. “On behalf of the British Government, I’d like to congratulate you. The message you’ve left is that Peru is capable of organizing mega sports events; Peru can accomplish anything it sets out to do,” she stated.

Sebastián Suito, President of IPD, stressed that a new page in the history of sports in Peru has been written. “Now we’ll have role models to follow. That’s why we are eternally grateful to you.”

The medalists who were part of the ceremony were Diego Elías, Daniela Rosas, Lucca Mesinas, Claudia Suárez, Kevin Martínez, Oliver del Castillo, Hugo del Castillo, Vania Torres, María Fernanda Reyes, Marco Carrillo, among others.

Photo Gallery (click here)

The 11,310 Pan American Games volunteers were praised at the Closing Ceremony of the most important sports event in the continent and before over 50,000 spectators at the National Stadium. 

The President of the Lima 2019 Organizing Committee Carlos Neuhaus handed out a cuchimilco figurine to five volunteers of the Pan American Games, as a symbolic recognition for their unique and invaluable contribution to the Games. 

The volunteers who received this recognition were: Martha Navarro Gómez (age 60 from San Juan de Lurigancho), Angélica García Vera (age 16), Juan Carlos Mina Flores (age 33 from Chosica), Juan Fernando Morales (Colombian), and Ancelmo Chauca Pérez (age 66 from Puente Piedra). 

During the closing speech, Neuhaus thanked the work of all volunteers during these 17 days of Games. 

“To our volunteers, thank you.  You’ve made us proud,” he highlighted. 

A video was played at the ceremony, showing the work of volunteers in the different areas such as press, sports, athlete services, medical services, anti-doping, protocol, medal ceremonies, among others. 

Sixty per cent of volunteers are women and 40% are men, most of them aged between 18 and 24 (7,469 volunteers) and 647 senior citizens.  

For the Volunteer Program, 28,000 people were trained in different locations, such as Lima, Huacho, Cañete, Trujillo, Chiclayo, Cajamarca, Huancayo, Tacna, Arequipa, Cusco, Tarapoto, Ica, and Pisco. 

It is important to say that the Lima 2019 volunteers received 20 hours of training prior to the development of their activities during the Games. Volunteers worked nine hours a day at more than 20 venues, helping over 6,687 athletes and 600,000 attendees. 

Lima 2019 Volunteer Program marked a historic milestone in our countries and in the culture of volunteering, as the biggest ever undertaken in Peru. 

All 50 youngsters from Huachipa town joyfully shout “Let’s All Play” in unison after receiving the tickets for the Closing Ceremony of the Lima 2019 Pan American Games, which took place at the National Stadium with an attendance of 50,000. 

Tickets were delivered under the Charity Ticket Program developed by the Lima 2019 Pan American Games Organizing Committee, which has to date benefited over 6,000 people, including vulnerable youngsters and senior citizens. 

Lima 2019 ticketing manager, Héctor Ramos, said that this measure was implemented so that more Peruvians can participate in the most important multi-sport event of the Americas and support the national team. “Thousands of Peruvian families went to the sports venues to cheer their compatriots on and live this fantastic experience,” he said.  

Happiness was shown on the faces of youngsters, who were in the western grandstands of the stadium. They shouted for joy along with the thousands of attendees, joining the waves and shouts during this unforgettable ceremony. 

Peru’s cultural elements were shown through a series of choreographies and songs that hypnotized the youngsters, connecting them to over two thousand years of traditions and artistic expressions which have had a defining role in the history of Peru.  

The attendees witnessed an exciting artistic reconstruction of Peru’s ancestral legacy, which will undoubtedly leave an indelible imprint in their memories.  

This is why Ana Canchari, director of CESAL Educational Support Center and person in charge of coordinating with the Lima 2019 Organizing Committee regarding the attendance of this group of youngsters, expressed that this opportunity allowed to bring them closer to the essence of Peru and invited them to see sports as an activity that shapes leaders, inspiring them to one day become a national team representative.” 

Their presence was a symbolic representation of our future athletes; the next generation of Peruvians who will inherit these modern sports facilities and the Olympic values that have shaped these Games since its foundation. 

Panam Sports President Neven Ilic also drew attention to them by saying that this Pan American Games marks the beginning of “a new chapter in the history of Peru.” They are the future of Peru’s society, a society that aims to jointly work on the basis of Olympic values.  

The DJ and music producer, known for her mixes of Peruvian folk music and electro beats, was in charge of the music at the Pan American Games Closing Ceremony in two key moments.  

At the beginning of the ceremony, Úrsula Talavera, known as “Shushupe” (an Amazon snake, also known as Lachesis muta or bushmaster) accompanied the delegations’ parade with a mix of traditional Peruvian and Latin American music with electro beats.  

At the end of the show, during a tribute to the Peruvian Amazonia and its most relevant artists, she transported the National Stadium to this exuberant and magical region with a tropical music set that gathered all 41 delegations at the center of the stadium.   

“I’m so thankful and excited for having the opportunity of sharing my work and music with Peru and the whole world. This has been an amazing experience; getting to know all these people who have been working in this great event with lots of energy, dedication, professionalism, and big smiles,” she said.  

Peru’s Games 

This is not the first time that DJ Shushupe, winner of Miller Sound Clash Peru award, represents us before the world. She has been at various events and festivals in Europe and the United States: SXSW Festival, where she was invited to represent Peru in Las Vegas, and Casa Peru in Moscu (Rusia 2018) for the FIFA World Cup. Now she had the opportunity to do so in her home country: Peru.  

“My greatest inspiration has always been the Peruvian Amazonia, which is now a fundamental part of my music. I’m so happy to represent my country, it’s something that really fills my heart with joy. All the people who visited Casa Perú on that occasion took a piece of Peru with them; a piece of our flavors, music, and culture,” she said.   

Finally, the also forest engineer, explained why she keeps mixing the melodies and rhythms of our country.  

“Each time I travel, I try to buy the typical music of the place I’m visiting from street vendors. I find this quite interesting and I enjoy mixing this type of music, as people can think it is contemporary music when it actually is quite old. I like to revive music, but in a different way. That’s what I do: rediscover our roots, so we don’t forget about our traditions, and bring them to life in a different form.”  

The participation of these two promising athletes during the Pan American Games Closing Ceremony was also a commitment to the future of Peruvian sport.

As part of the protocol, the Panam Sports President, Neven Ilic, awarded the last two gold medals. The first one went to Romina Ariana Baltazar Miñan, who competed in judo at age 14. She claimed the title in her category at the School Championships. At the South American School Championships, she took home the individual silver and team bronze medals.

The other medal was for Carlos “Nano” Fernández, who won in the U-15 table tennis category at the ITTF World Junior Circuit.

“Nano” Fernández obtained medals in all South American categories (U-11, U-13, and U-15), and has also won the gold and silver medals at Latin American level (champion in U-11 and runner-up in U13 and U-15).

They are two promising stars of Peruvian sport ahead of the next Pan American Games, Santiago 2023.

The President of Panam Sports, Neven Ilic, highlighted that “in Lima 2019 we had the greatest Pan American Games in history.”  

“You did everything right. When we started  15 days ago, we dreamed of hosting great Pan American Games, and today I can tell you we made it happen. We had the greatest Pan American Games in history,” stated Ilic during the closing ceremony at the National Stadium. In addition, Neven Ilic awarded gold medals to the athletes of the future.  

In front of an enthusiastic audience that had crowded the grandstands, the Panam Sports President pointed out that these Pan American Games have started a new page in the history of this institution and of sports in the Americas. 

The sports authority insisted that these Games should not be just a celebration lasting 15 days, because now Peru will keep the greatest legacy in history and has the chance to keep growing; there are no obstacles now, as it has great athletes and top-level facilities. “Today we can start writing a new page of a glorious Peru,” he added. 

He pointed out they are leaving Peru with their hearts full of admiration, affection, and gratitude for the way they were treated. Peru opened its doors and made every participant feel like home. He added that it was an honor for Panam Sports to hold the Lima 2019 Pan American Games. 

He also expressed his gratitude to every person who was part of this project, giving a special acknowledgment to the thousands of volunteers who stole the show. 

“Peruvian athletes were up to the task, and the best fanbase in the world was up to the task too because they filled up the stadiums. Thank you for making this an amazing celebration,” added Ilic.