Expectation has grown regarding the 16th competition day of the most important multi-sports event in the Americas. The Peruvian team wants to reach the podium after playing the final round of the double sculls rowing event, which will feature the best rowers in the continent.   

The competition will start at 09:00 in Albuferas de Medio Mundo, Végueta-Huaura.  

Meanwhile, the Peruvian wrestling delegation is due to compete in the quarterfinals against the tough Dominican Republic and Cuba teams to qualify for the final and thus seek a gold medal. The competition will be held at Miguel Grau Coliseum in Callao.  

Ecuador, Argentina, Brazil and other countries will also face off in the ring. One of the main attractions will be Lima 2019 Ambassador Thalia Mallqui, who will participate in the 50 kg freestyle event. 

Another highlight will be the second competition day of women’s volleyball, where the Peruvian team led by Ángela Leyva will be going up against Colombia in the evening. Prior to that, Brazil and Argentina, the ‘South American Derby’ will face off at the Callao Sports Center at 13:00. 

JUDO STARTS 

Judo competitions will start at VIDENA Sports Center 1 at 15:00. The best judokas from the Americas will compete for the gold medal, among them Argentinian Paula Pareto.  

Additionally, the most successful fencers will take part in vibrant bouts for the gold in different events, singles and teams, at the Lima Convention Center, starting at 9:00. 

On the other hand, at the VIDENA Aquatic Center, outstanding swimmers will test their performance in the swimming finals, which offer a wide range of styles. 

At the VIDENA Athletics Stadium, the most successful athletes in the Americas will show the results of their physical training for the Games as they face the athletics events' finals, including the 400m hurdles, 1500m, hammer throw, jumping, among others. 

Last, but not least, in the disciplines of women’s basketball, equestrian, golf, hockey, Basque pelota, water polo, racquetball, softball, table tennis, archery and sailing in Paracas, various delegations will face each other to ensure their qualification for the tournament's final stages. 

People’s support during the last relay was essential for Peru to pass their opponents —with some key strokes— and reach the third place in the heat. This entitles Peru to compete at mixed 4x100 freestyle relay final at the VIDENA Aquatic Center.

Jessica Cattaneo, Sebastián Arispe, Mckenna Debever and Ricardo Espinoza placed Peru right behind Brazil and Canada clocking a time of 3.39.76. They set a new national record in mixed 4x100 freestyle relay final for one second.

“I thank all people who are coming to cheer on us, people who have never seen a swimming competition before but they feel identified because they are Peruvians, it’s amazing,” said Jessica.

“We’ve broken the national record, and we’re so happy,” added Sebastián, who set the previous record of 3.40.17 together with Mckenna Debever, Nicholas Magana and Andrea Cedrón in March 2016.

Mckenna Debever, who barely speaks Spanish, was the last in the relay and said: “people’s support, in a stage I really love, was amazing.”  

Finally, Ricardo Espinoza said: “more than qualifying, we wanted to set a new record, and we did it for a second.”

The Peruvian team will try to reach the podium tonight at 10:07 against Bahamas, Argentina, Canada, Brazil, the USA, Mexico, and Venezuela.

The National Paralympic Association of Peru announced that a total of 139 athletes will represent Peru at the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games, which will begin on August 23, becoming the largest delegation in its history.

The announcement was made by its President, Lucha Villar. “It’s an honor to announce that Peru will be represented by 139 young athletes. They successfully qualified and are the large group of Para athletes who will make us proud,” she said.

Peru will take part in 16 sports, including sitting volleyball and wheelchair basketball as the ones with the largest number of competitors: 24 each (12 in women’s team and 12 in men’s team)

Furthermore, there will be Para athletes participating in boccia (4), football 5-a-side (10), football 7-a-side (14), goalball (12), judo (1), Para athletics (14), Para badminton (10), Para cycling (2), Para swimming (4), Para powerlifting (4), Para taekwondo (4), Para table tennis (4), Shooting Para sport (3) and wheelchair tennis (5).

As confirmed by Lucha Villar, the Peruvian delegation will be led by José González-Mugaburu, bronze medalist at the Toronto 1976 Paralympic Games.

“We are very confident, not only in good results that Peruvians will achieve but also in what they will represent. They are the best ambassadors for Para sports,” he said.

LET’S ALL PLAY: BUY YOUR TICKETS

Tickets for Lima 2019 competitions can be purchased at the 11 points of sale set up at Jockey Plaza shopping center in Santiago de Surco and Metro and Wong supermarkets in the districts of Chorrillos, Independencia, La Molina, Lima, Miraflores, San Borja, San Isidro, San Juan de Miraflores, San Miguel and Surco.

Also, on the website www.lima2019.pe and on the Teleticket website: https://teleticket.com.pe/lima2019. The tickets for the Parapan American Games start at PEN 10 and there will be a 50% discount for children under 18, senior citizens and people with an impairment.

The members of “Orquestando” (EBE - Special Basic Education) by the Ministry of Education showed, during their presentation at Culturaymi, that music has therapeutic and healing effects and that the human being can surrender to the beat of a soft melody.

This band belongs to the Special Basic Education School (CEBE) San Martín de Porres and are directed by Miguel Angel Lira. They rehearse twice a week after school with the support of parents.

Virginia Mautino, the school principal, says that this bringing together of schoolchildren and music has had positive effects on children's performance. “We have seen an improvement in social skills, attention, and concentration. They identify silence, sing and, above all, enjoy what they do.”

Orquestando includes almost 40 students, some of them with intellectual impairment and autism. They are part of this pilot program which has achieved positive results due to its inclusive approach.    To the beat of the Peruvian cajón, the organ and the guitar they perform and receive applause in recognition of their effort and dedication. They are Peru’s finest!

THURSDAY, AUGUST 8 AGENDA

 MALI

11:00   Control No Control presents: Daniel Iregui (Canada) - Temporary exhibition

15:00   Story telling: "El Príncipe de la Espada Dinosaurio” Organized by: Etcétera Editores

18:45    Children’s play: Sirenas y Pesebres – Show 1 

19:30   Intro: Soft Revolver (by Embassy of Canada and Fundación Telefónica)

20:00   Soft Revolver Concert by Myriam Bleau (Canada)

20:00   Audiovisual Performance: Electroacoustic concert by: Myriam Bleau (Canada), Pauchi Sasaki (Peru)

20:45  Intermission

21:00  Pauchi Sasaki Concert

FUN FEST

17.30 San Marcos University ballet crew Danzando fusiones 

18:50    Lima Cinema Festival: Opening of itinerant festival, showing: Rodar Contra todo (film)

21:20  Pelo Madueño

MET

19:00  Parade of winning apparels: Soldados de la Tierra, Noabo, Hilar-tejer-vestir, Candelaria Puno Perú, Crónicas de Paucartambo

MILCO

18:00 Kinder

19:05 Andrea Martínez

21:10 Mundaka

LET’S ALL PLAY

19:30   Panel discussion: For a Country of Readers: Presentation of the Proposed New Book Act Organized by: Editores Independientes del Perú (EIP)  

The Circuito de Playas – Costa Verde will be the stage of Lima 2019 Pan American Games road cycling time trial and individual events, where 91 of the best cyclists of the Americas will gather.

The competitions were held this Wednesday, August 7 and will resume on Saturday, August 10. The Costa Verde will be closed again, from the San Miguel district to the Chorrillos district.

Jacqueline Lobrano, Lima 2019 Spectator Services head said that people has various pedestrian accesses to go cheer for their favorite athletes: In San Miguel, the Jhon Lennon bridge; in Magdalena, the Bajada Brasil bridge; in San Isidro, the María Reiche bridge and in Miraflores, the Bajada Balta bridge.

She advised spectators not to bring pets to the competitions as they may run away, interrupt the circuit or cause a serious accident. Spectators must not throw water or bottles at cyclists as the road must be completely free.

The Traffic Director of the Peruvian National Police Jorge Lam, said that until now, no inconvenient has been reported on the closing of the Costa Verde, as enough police agents have been deployed in all alternative routes where traffic load has been identified.

Lam asked drivers and pedestrian to understand that routes closing is due to an international sport event in which everyone should cooperate.

Closing on Saturday, August 10

The Costa Verde circuit will be closed again on Friday, August 9 from 22:00 until Saturday, August 10 at midnight, from the exit to Av. Universitaria to the exit of Av. Huaylas. The Avenida del Ejército will also remain closed, from Av. Coronel Portillo to the “Manuel Bonilla” Sports Center. The section between the exit to Av. Brasil to the exit of Av. Huaylas will be opened from 18:30 on August 10.

ALTERNATIVE ROUTES

From North to South:

Av. Costanera - Av. Bertolotto – Av. Comandante Espinar – Av. Brasil (Este-Oeste) - Av. Del Ejército – Av. Augusto Pérez Araníbar – Av. Coronel Pedro Portillo (West-East) – Av. General Juan Antonio Pezet– Av. Belén (East-West)- Av. General Córdova – Av. Santa Cruz (East-West) – Av. Aviación– Av. Malecón Cisneros – Av. Malecón de la Reserva – Av. Armendáriz – Bajada Armendáriz-(East-West).

From South to North:

Bajada Armendáriz (West-East) - Av. Almirante Miguel Grau - Av. Almirante Miguel Grau – Av. Reducto – Av. Armendáriz (East-West) – Av. José Larco (West-East) – Av. José Pardo- Av. Del Ejército – Augusto Pérez Araníbar – Av. Del Ejército – Jr. Diego Ferré – Av. Antonio José de Sucre (West-East) – Jr. Salaverry – Jr. Federico Gállese – Av. La Paz.

THE TEST

The women’s individual road will start at 09:00. The 33 participants will run six laps (79.8 km).

This event will have a mass start in a pack. The first cyclist to cross the finish line will be the winner. At 13:00, the men’s event will start, with 44 athletes who will run 13 laps (172.9 km) in the same circuit.

The Peruvian athlete Diana Bazalar had a good performance on the second day of competitions at the new VIDENA Athletics Stadium and set a new national record.

Bazalar competed in the 100-meter hurdles, where she set a new record clocking a time of 13s25c.

The previous record also belonged to Diana Bazalar, who clocked a time of 13s36c at the South American Games in Cochabamba on June 6, 2018, and won the silver medal at the tournament.

Bazalar had the fans support this afternoon at the new Athletics Stadium, which was crowded of people cheering on her at all times. This encouraged her to achieve a new national record.

The “Cárceles Productivas” project held by the National Penitentiary Institute (INPE) are now present, with an innovative stand, in Culturaymi, the Lima 2019 cultural program that takes place at Parque de la Exposición.

INPE and the Lima 2019 Organizing Committee signed an agreement to provide free use of the trademark of the distinctive signs and the Milco mascot in the works carried out and sold by inmates of different penitentiaries in the country.

In the stand no. 39 of INPE, located at Parque de la Exposición, the sale of the official mascot Milco made from cold porcelain clay is a complete success. There are different designs: Milco holding the torch, playing football, surfing and playing volleyball.

If you want to take home this beautiful souvenir of the Lima 2019 Pan American Games and support the project “Cárceles Productivas”, you can buy them for only 15 soles.

Jessica Guzmán, INPE's collaborator, indicated that there is a high demand from the assistants, since more than 600 units have been sold so far. “Everybody is happy with their Milco, very satisfied with the work done in the penitentiaries and, especially, with the quality of the product,” she said.

The collaborator made a call for the public to come to the stand and buy these products, as the incomes will be for the inmates, for their livelihood and that of their families.

The Milco made from cold porcelain clay will also be available in the following venues: VIDENA, Villa María del Triunfo Sports Center, Chorrillos Military School, Miguel Grau Sports Center, Punta Rocas Beach and Army Equestrian School.

Athletes living in the Pan American Village expressed their satisfaction for the Recreational Center that was installed in this lodging, a resting and entertainment place for the athletes that participate in the Lima 2019 Pan American Games.

"Thank God we have this recreational area, where there are many games, so we come here to relax a little and interact with representatives from other countries," said Kimberly Cardoza, Peruvian representative in athletics 400 meters hurdles and 4x400 m relay.

The Peruvian athlete said that, personally, she is satisfied with the recreational area and she also highlighted the help of volunteers who are in the Pan American Village.

"There are games, a gymnasium, an immense kitchen, there is an international area in the Pan American Village, where you have all the amenities," she said, after letting us know that Peruvian athletes have a rest day one day before the competitions.

She also mentioned that the Recreational Center entertains them and is fun to release tensions before a competition.

READY TO COMPETE

Furthermore, Kimberly Cardoza said that she has trained very hard for her participation in athletics and that, since December, she does preparation exercises three times a day.

She stated that she will go out to run and enjoy her participation because the whole training process is over, and now all that remains is to show the results.

“Lima 2019 will leave us a great legacy, being here in the Pan American Village allows us to gain experience from representatives of other countries in different sports, in their form of training,” she said.

She also added that the infrastructure of all the stadiums and fields is something that, at least in athletics, they have never had and that now it will be possible to hold world-class championships.

HAPPY VISITORS

José Tomás Beltrán, member of the Chilean delegation, expressed his good impression of the Pan American Village facilities.

“I’m impressed by what they have achieved as an organization to make these Lima 2019 Games possible,” he added.

He specified that the entertainment is adequate, because it makes them leave the routine, above all, for athletes who have a concentration process to get ready and disconnect a little.

“In each gaming area, there is a speaker where you can put on music and share with the different delegations,” said the Chilean athlete.

The best Pan American cyclists will race on Wednesday, August 7 in the 100 meters events to get the gold medal at the Athletics Stadium in VIDENA.

This sports competition will take place starting at 16:40 and will be the main attraction of the public, who come to this venue to see the best athletes of the Americas.

Before that, the following competitions will take place in the VIDENA: men's long jump final, women's 800 m final, men's shot put final, and men's 1500 m decathlon with the awarding of a medal.   

There will also be preliminary competitions, such as men's discus throw decathlon, men's 100 m hurdles series 1/2 decathlon, women's 100 m hurdles series 1/2 heptathlon, women's high jump heptathlon, men's pole vault group A decathlon, among others.

Another of the attractions of Wednesday 7 is the debut of the women's volleyball competitions, where the Peruvian team will play its debut at 20:30 against Canada at the Callao Sports Center. Competitions will kick off with a match between Brazil and Puerto Rico at 13:00.

Cyclists Compete for the Gold

Likewise, the best road cyclists of the Americas will compete on Wednesday, August 7 at 09:00 at the Costa Verde beach circuit, where they will try to obtain the gold medal.

20 female cyclists will start the time trial event in a mass road race which has its starting and finishing point at the Costa Verde San Miguel venue, which is located near the exit to Av. Bertolotto and continues until Los Pavos beach in Barranco, where athletes will have to make a U-turn and return to the Costa Verde venue.

Afterwards, 21 male athletes will start the competition following the same route at 11:30. In the case of women's, they will cover a total of 18.5 km and, in the men's category, they will pedal 37 km, making two laps of the circuit.

Following the Pan American sports competition schedule, there will also be a competition in equestrian sports, with the team jumping event, where Peru, Guatemala, Uruguay, Dominican Republic, Chile, Colombia, Argentina, Venezuela, Mexico, Canada, Brazil and United States will participate.

This sports activity will be held at the Army Equestrian School, in La Molina starting at 10:00.

Additionally, The Greco-Roman wrestling competitions will begin with the men’s 60 kg, 67 kg, 77 kg, 87 kg, and 97 kg categories which will be held at the Miguel Grau Coliseum in Callao starting at 10:00.  Two Peruvian athletes, Nilton Soto and Bryan Cruz, will compete and fight to get one of the medals.

Racquetball and table tennis will also define gold medal winners. Racquetball will be held from 10:00 at the Miguel Grau Coliseum in Callao and table tennis, at the Sports Center 3 of VIDENA

The Peruvian football team will play its last match against Ecuador in the dispute of the 7th and 8th place at the San Marcos Stadium at 10:00.

Finally following the sports competition schedule, the sailing, archery, fencing and women’s basketball preliminary rounds will be held.

Story written in the sea. Benoit “Piccolo” Clemente is not only part of the Peruvian surfing team that has positioned this sport at the top, but also is an authorized representative to talk about the before and after the Lima 2019 Pan American Games.

The popular surfer known as “Piccolo” said this multi-sports competition “sets a historical precedent for Peruvian sports” and “has opened the doors for many people to get to know new sports and disciplines.”

“I’m very pleased to see families and parents with their children. Allowing their kids to experience these Pan American Games is priceless... I’m very grateful to the Peruvians fans who were present at the (Punta Rocas) beach. To get out of the sea and find that amount of people, the “blanquirroja,” he recalled with excitement.

A GOLDEN YEAR

Benoit ‘Piccolo’ Clemente described his current performance as very important and expects to end this year with three titles to meet his goals.

“I’m going to fight for the world title, which will be the third one if I win. I will try to end this year with these three titles. I’m achieving all the objectives,” Clemente added.

The Lima 2019 Organizing Committee called a press conference held at the Lima Convention Center in the district of San Borja. In addition to “Piccolo,” Peruvian surfers Lucca Mesinas, Daniela Rosas, Vania Torres, and Giannisa Vecco attended this conference. Mesinas qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games after winning gold in open surfing last Sunday.

Also, Rosas earned the gold medal at only 17 in the women’s open surfing and secured her ticket to the Olympic Games next year. Besides, Torres, picked up the silver medal in stand-up paddle, and Vecco, was very close to earning a spot on the podium in this event.