Yesterday, Nicolás Álvarez won on the first day of the men’s competition at Lawn Tennis de la Exposición Club. And this morning, a significant number of spectators witnessed the victory of tennis player Dominique Schaefer, the best-ranked Peruvian athlete in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA). 

The constant support of the crowd at the main stadium of the Lawn Tennis Club gave her encouragement to advance to the next round. Although the match became complicated for her at the end of each set, she managed to win both sets 7-5 against Grenadine Akilah James. 

“It was a tough game because I wasn't so confident at times. I was winning the entire game, but when I failed some hits, she managed to raise her level. Anyway, my debut helped me relax. I will face the next matches more calmly. Today, the crowd encouragement filled me with lots of energy. This atmosphere makes me very excited to play for my country,” stated Dominique. 

The pair made up of Schaefer and Dana Guzmán will compete in women’s doubles in the afternoon. Additionally, Juan Pablo Varillas will make his debut in men’s competitions against Bolivian Boris Arias. The winners in singles and doubles (men’s and women’s), as well as in mixed doubles, will earn direct qualification for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.  

TENNIS AT LIMA 2019 

Tennis competitions will be held at the stadium of the Lawn Tennis Club, from July 29 to August 4. Athletes will compete in singles and doubles (men’s and women’s), as well as in mixed doubles. A total of 80 tennis player from 16 countries, both male and female, will participate in the Games, competing in knockout round stages. 

There will be six stages in men’s singles, starting with a round of 64, and five stages in both women’s singles and men's doubles, starting with a round of 32. Meanwhile, athletes will start competing in a round of 16 in women’s doubles and mixed doubles. 

ABOUT LIMA 2019 

The Lima 2019 Pan American Games is a continental event that will gather 6680 athletes from 41 countries and started on July 26 at the National Stadium. There will be 17 days of competitions, which will take place in 14 districts of Lima and Callao. Some of the main venues will be the VIDENA, Villa María del Triunfo Sports Center, Callao Regional Sports Village, Villa El Salvador Sports Center, Punta Rocas, among others. 

Photo gallery (click here)

Olympic prelude. For many athletes, the Pan American Games became their tickets to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. This has resulted in a high level of competition, according to Lima 2019 spokesperson Carlos Manuel Lazarte. 

“Lima 2019 has a record number of qualifying disciplines for Tokyo 2020. This has appealed to athletes of a higher competitive level, because they have come to Lima to achieve their qualification. Qualification in modern pentathlon is already defined and today, either Brazil or Argentina will qualify for the Olympic Games in handball,” he stated. 

Carlos Manuel Lazarte also highlighted the fact that Peruvian runner Cristhian Pacheco has qualified for the Olympic Games, even setting a new Pan American record for the men's marathon. 

He also congratulated Natalia Cuglievan for her gold medal in water skiing, tricks event. At only 22, this is the second time she has achieved this feat, as she previously picked up the gold medal at Toronto 2015. 

“Now that Peru has set this historical record of four gold medals, we expect more success to keep the trend,” he said. 

It is important to mention that Peru is ranked eighth in the Lima 2019 overall medal tally with four gold, two silver and two bronze medals. The USA leads the table, with a total of 44 medals, 17 of which are gold.

The Ministry of Defense, —through the Peruvian Army, Navy and Air Force—showcases its logistical and personnel capabilities, employed in military operations and disaster risk management in one of the Culturaymi stands because culture is something that they must also defend.

The stand located in Parque de la Exposición is a central spot within the fair, as hundreds of people of all ages can appreciate the Army's vehicles and equipment, which includes—among its most spectacular pieces—an Army's J8 Jeep, a Navy's Turbo 2000 tubular vehicle, an Air Force's unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and a rotary wing drone.

There are also first aid and tactical backpacks used by the armed forces in VRAEM, radios, military communication equipment, ropes, harnesses, stretchers, and an equipment with capacity for up to one ton of weight, which can be launched up to 8 kilometers high, from a cargo plane, and has an internal GPS that can be monitored from the plane, with 150 m MOE.

People of all ages and sizes can try on the equipment used by the members of the Air Forces, which is adaptable. They can also get on the dune buggies to take pictures.

Furthermore, members of the Special Forces Group (GRUFE) of the Air Force, as well as members of the Rapid Disaster Intervention Company (CIRD) of the Army and the Navy are present at the stand.

There is also a board with the heroic faces of the fifteen athletes and Para athletes of the Armed Forces participating in the Lima 2019 Pan American and Parapan American Games: Ángel Adriel (fencing); Frank Nolberto (judo); Brianda Rivera, Liz Carrión, and Kevin Altamirano (shooting); José Luis Casas and Carlos Felipa (Para athletics); among others. 

"We aim to show the public part of our capabilities to accomplish the missions that the Peruvian Government entrusts us so that people feel identified with their Armed Forces. Within the military life, the physical condition is critical. It is part of our training: 50% sport and 50% discipline. Sport gives us the ability to resist and endure adverse situations such as the one lived at the VRAEM," explains Captain Gutiérrez, member of the defense and special operations division of the Peruvian Air Forces.

The cultural program will take place until August 10, as part of the Pan American Games, and then, from August 24 to 31, during the Parapan American Games.

Peru’s hopes to win a new medal were in Hernán Viera. The strongest man in Peru competed in the 109 kg category, and that is why he wanted to make an excellent presentation. However, the sports tapes in his arms showed that he was competing with some pain.

Despite this, Viera did his best to make it to the podium, but his opponents were also willing to do anything, such as Ecuador’s Jorge Arroyo who set a new Pan American record with 190 kg in snatch.

Peru’s Viera managed to lift 140 kg in snatch and 180 kg in clean and jerk, for a total of 320 kg. At all times, Viera had the support of the Peruvian fans. However, many Venezuelan fans who arrived at Coliseo Mariscal Cáceres de Chorrillos to cheer on their athletes also encouraged our weightlifter out of gratitude.

In the end, the judge’s decision was not easy. American Wesley Kitts was awarded the gold medal after lifting a total of 389 kg, one kg more than Venezuela’s Jesús González, who was awarded silver. The bronze medal was awarded to Jorge Arroyo, who lifted a total of 385 kg after setting a new record in snatch. For clean and jerk, Arroyo got injured after the first attempt and was not able to lift more than 195 kg. This way he made it to the podium with the bronze medal.

Hernán Viera reached sixth place and was not able to bring joy to Peru. Weightlifting competitions at Mariscal Cáceres Coliseum in Chorrillos finish tomorrow. Attendees were able to see the best weightlifters of the Americas; some of them are junior world champions and Pan American champions. Angie Castro will be the last Peruvian weightlifter to compete in the 87 kg category. She hopes to win the second medal in this sport after the bronze medal won by Luis Bardalez. Women’s +89 kg and men’s +109 kg competitions will be held tomorrow.

The seventh competition day of the Lima 2019 Pan American Games promises to be full of action, as the most important athletes in the Americas will do their best to position their delegations at the top. Athletes will try to obtain as many gold medals as possible, to leave an indelible mark in the all-time Pan American Games medal table.  

In this regard, Costa Verde will feature the final match of men's and women's beach volleyball competitions, with a series of tough matches. These will start at 10:00 and end at 14:30. 

Likewise, men's and women's finals in 200 m and 500 m canoe sprint will take place at Albufera Medio Mundo –Végueta, from 9:00 to 11:50. 

Water skiing competitions will also come to an end at Laguna Bujama at 10:00. Similarly, one of the most representative strength sports, weightlifting, will conclude at Mariscal Cáceres Coliseum from 12:00 to 19:00. 

The Bowling Center will see the last matches of this indoor sport, in women's and men's single events, starting at 9:00. 

On the other hand, distinction delegations of this continent will continue in their search for the gold medal in different sport disciplines such as handball, boxing, artistic gymnastics and shooting. Finally, the qualification stage of sports like baseball, hockey, softball, squash, surf and tennis will continue amid great expectation from the fans.  

For more information about the schedule and results: https://www.lima2019.pe/resultados 

A large audience attended to the High-performance Sports Center at Punta Rocas and Peruvian representatives gave their best, even though the sea conditions were not the best. Daniella Rosas and Lucca Mesinas qualified to the second round of the only qualifying event for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Meanwhile, Benoit "Piccolo" Clemente was cheered for the incredible maneuvers performed in the last heat. "There were no good waves, but this will improve, and better maneuvers will be performed. There was a great family atmosphere. That encouragement is important for athletes to keep going through the rounds to the final," he said.

"Piccolo" will participate in the second main qualifying round against Anthony Flores from Costa Rica this Wednesday at 11:40. "It is amazing to live this sports celebration in Peru with gold medals. We are under the spotlight. Congratulations to all athletes for this achievement. We, as part of the Peruvian national team, will contribute to making this historic event even bigger," he said.

Likewise, María Fernanda Reyes beat Michelle Soriano from Ecuador in the women’s category. The repechage stage of Round 1 will continue tomorrow at 09:00 with Alonso Correa and Melanie Giunta. Moreover, the first main round of the SUP surf category will begin, in which Peruvian athletes Tamil Martino and Vania Torres will compete.

Punta Rocas beach is closely related to surf in Peru since the year in which Felipe Pomar won the World Surfing Championship in 1965 for the first time in Peru. Tickets are still available for preliminary rounds at www.lima2019.pe/tickets and at the ten authorized Teleticket centers.

SURF IN LIMA 2019

During the Pan American Games, we will have open surf, longboard, paddle surf and sup race for men and women. The competition will be conducted in compliance with the established rules of the International Surfing Association (ISA) and the Pan American Surfing Association (PASA) from June 29 to August 4.

The event will take place in heats, with a double-elimination format. Surfers will face each other in a first, second and third round until they reach the finals. The number of participants in each heat can vary from two athletes to three or four. In the case of a two-athlete heat, the first advances in the event. In a three- or four-athlete heat, the first two will advance in the event.

While several venues are holding sports competitions, the Pan American Village is living a permanent celebration. This is the result of a series of shows aimed at making athletes have fun and enjoy their stay in Peru. Peruvian cajon ensembles and lively parades spread the high spirits across the Village. The visiting delegations will be able to take home the best memories of this atmosphere.

Many athletes, such as the Jamaica representatives, started dancing to the beat of the cajon in the middle of the residence, while the volunteers watched and thoroughly enjoyed the Peruvian music being played. Then, a batucada and mime show began, amusing everybody at the Village international zone. The American athletes also joined in the dance as a way to lighten the mood amid the competitive environment they face.

In the evening, several artists and bands perform live. An example is the band Río, who will be playing the songs that made them into one of Peru’s most important rock and pop bands.

Without a doubt, the Village is now flooded with joy and camaraderie shared by the thousands of athletes staying in the seven buildings and 1096 apartments which make up the main accommodation venue.

Photo gallery (click here)

Lima 2019 has resulted in Peru joining the list of countries with the best sports infrastructure. The Pan American Games will leave an infrastructure legacy for a new generation of athletes and for the country's transformation based on sports values. And one of the main venues that was built for the Games finally opened its doors. 

The impressive Aquatic Center at VIDENA made its debut at the Pan American Games hosting the artistic swimming duet competition, featuring the best athletes of this discipline, which used to be called synchronized swimming. The grandstands were full of excited fans eager to watch this international competition. 

Many spectators praised the modern Aquatic Center, which was built for Lima 2019. The most enthusiastic fans were from Mexico, who were happy to see their team from the grandstands; a group of Chilean supporters were also rooting for their team. Among them, many families with their young children decided to spend the National Holidays watching a top-level competition in the best facilities. 

Tickets are still available if you want to attend any competition. Just go on the Pan American and Parapan American Games website lima2019.pe/tickets. Tickets can also be bought on the Teleticket website: https://teleticket.com.pe/lima2019. 

A new point of sale has opened at Jockey Plaza shopping center, Santiago de Surco. This new point of sale joins the other 10 already operating at 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. 

Parque de la Exposición is located between Av. 28 de Julio and Garcilaso de la Vega. It now hosts Culturaymi, a cultural program organized as part of the Lima 2019 Pan American and Parapan American Games. Thousands of Peruvians already visited Parque de la Exposición’s facilities, stands and food stalls to celebrate the Peruvian Independence Day holidays.  

Among all the festival activities that show and celebrate Peruvian culture, ‘Cuchimilco y el Bicentenario’ is one of the main exhibitions at Culturaymi. It is organized by the Special Project for the Bicentennial of Peru’s Independence and is currently carried out at the beautiful Parque de la Exposición pergola. It is the perfect location for it, as it was gifted by the Italian Government to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Peru's independence.  

A one year to celebrate the Bicentennial, the pergola has become a circular exhibition that invites visitors to explore the origins of cuchimilcos, the Chancay culture figurine which inspired Milco, the Games mascot. Guided visits run from 11:00 to 20:00.  

Thanks to archaeologist Walter Tosso, people can learn about the transformations that these peculiar statuettes have gone through over time, their religious meaning, and the world view of the inhabitants of the central region of Lima.   

At the end of the tour, visitors can write their wishes for the Bicentennial on colorful pieces of paper. Instead of throwing them into a well, they hang them on the entrance gate of the pergola. Some of the messages that can be read are the following: “I hope there is respect, rather than violence, between Peruvians and foreigners”, “Cultural diversity makes us lucky and blessed” and “I hope all Peruvians recycle garbage and stop using plastic”.  

Felipe Carrillo and his children aged 7 and 10 are among those who decided to celebrate the Peruvian Independence Day holidays at Culturaymi. “This festival is very important, not only for tourists but also for us, to learn about Peruvian culture in a memorable way,” said Felipe.  

María Calderón, who is 75 years old, also assured that Culturaymi “should not only be carried out during the Games, but also from time to time because future generations must know what happened before. Teenagers learn things here that sometimes they don't learn at school.”.  

The purposes of ‘Cuchimilco y el Bicentenario’ are to highlight the importance of cultures from Peru’s central coast region, to provide spaces for dialog and to encourage reflection on Peru’s archaeological heritage. ‘Cuchimilco y el Bicentenario’ will run until September 1 at Parque de la Exposición. 

It will support the press and general public. The Pan American Games Organizing Committee highlighted that this fifth edition of the “Lima 2019” newsletter will support the work of more than 2000 accredited journalists. 

The delegations of athletes staying in the Pan American Village, located in Villa El Salvador, will also be aware of their next competitions. People will also know what happens day by day through this newsletter. 

“It’s great that in this eight-page “Lima 2019” newsletter, the media can collect photographs, information, results and cultural data,” said the Lima 2019 spokesman Carlos Manuel Lazarte. 

He also said that the tabloid format is comfortable to read, clear and concise, including detailed information. “It’s a newsletter comfortable to read,” he said. 

It should be noted that the “Lima 2019” newsletter is published every day during the Games and it is distributed for free at different Lima 2019 venues. 

FRONT COVER-WORTHY BOXING 

Carlos Manuel Lazarte was moved when he saw the last cover of the “Lima 2019” newsletter. It included information regarding the victory of Peruvian boxers José María Lúcar and Leodan Pezo, who won medals and will fight for the gold. 

The newsletter also pointed out that the former world champion Alberto “Chiquito” Rossel can taste the glory again as a coach.