They came from so far to represent her mother's country. Ana and Elisa López, who are from Spain, were asked to be part of the Peruvian water polo team and they accepted it. 

“I’m proud of representing Peru. I don't live here, but it’s my mother’s country. She was so excited to know that we were coming to Peru,” said Elisa.

The tournament’s level is very high, and playing against the Canadian or Brazilian teams is an honor for them. “Competing against big teams help us improve as athletes,” said Ana. Both of them play in the 5ta División de Honor de Waterpolo.

Meanwhile, Elisa also mentioned that “ being part of the Pan American Games is important because they feature the best countries in the Americas, and I’d never participated in such a major tournament.”

Although they did not obtain a good result, Elisa had the opportunity to score one of the two goals against Canada. “We always try to score a goal. That’s an incentive for us, and we fight for it on the field.”

The average age of the Peruvian water polo team members is one of the lowest in the tournament. The girls’ age does not exceed 20 years old. “The difference on the field when compared to other teams is obvious, but I’m sure that with the proper support this group will grow a lot and will bring many victories,” said Ana.

The López sisters said goodbye with a sensation of happiness to see how Peruvian fans supported them at all times, even if the result was not good. Her family came from Trujillo and Puno to see them in action during the match. “We leave happy because of all the love and affection we received. Even though we were losing, Peruvians were always rooting for us, and that’s something we appreciate very much,” added Elisa.

On Tuesday, Peru will end its participation against Cuba at 09:30 in Group A. To cheer up on Peruvian team, buy your tickets at lima2019.pe/tickets and go to the Villa María del Triunfo Sports Center.

After a long time, hundreds of families attended the stadium of the National University of San Marcos to watch the football match between the Peruvian U23 team and Jamaica at the Pan American Games.

It was gratifying to see fathers, mothers and children at the stadium, enjoying the game of the Peruvian team. 

In the first week of August, most minors are on their mid-year vacations. It was good to see them with their parents at this remodeled venue, where the football competitions are taking place.

The constant support of the crowd was seen when the team coached by Ñol Solano tried to score many times.

Fans who support the Peruvian senior football team also attended the match between Peru and Jamaica. They did not stop encouraging and singing traditional chants such as “Como no te voy a querer si eres el Perú bendito que me vio nacer”. 

They sang until the end of the game with the traditional bass drum and horns.

Culturaymi offers different dishes for visitors that can be found in food trucks inside an exclusive area at the Parque de la Exposición. 

As usual, Peruvians really enjoy eating, and this is no exception.

There are options for all tastes: from a cheap choripán, to a tasty chancho, or pollo a la caja china with carapulcra or chaufa, to hamburgers with crispy French fries or a salchipapa.

The delicious Arequipa cuisine could not be absent and, as usual, offers the famous dobles or triples, rocoto relleno, zarza, and chicharrón de cerdo In our tour we also have the ever-present anticuchos with potatoes, handmade wraps stuffed with nikkei pork, lomo saltado, pollo a la brasa, and vegan options. There are also warm empanadas stuffed with meat or chicken, hot coffee, chocolate, and other infusions. In addition to the extraordinary cultural events, a delicious meal is also important.

Fruity emolientes also help fight the cold and low temperatures of this winter season. Natural emolientes of camu camu, blueberry, burgundy grape, strawberry and passion fruit are very popular and attract long queues who search new flavors.

The cold winter has made businesses earn more money with their hot drinks. Other flavors that can be found in the gastronomy zone at Culturaymi are the emolientes of lemongrass, mint, eucalyptus and lemon verbena, which have healing properties.  

TODAY'S AGENDA MONDAY, AUGUST 5

“LET’S ALL PLAY” ZONE
17:00 LA LEYENDA DEL PAJARO FLAUTA - Show 2 (Theater play for children)

MILCO ZONE
18:55 CAMILO VEGA
19:55 ZAV
20:55 YARDIGANS
22:00 CAMPO DE ALMAS

Villa María del Triunfo district was the stage for an exciting fan battle, as part of the match between Peru and Venezuela,for the preliminary round of women’s softball. This sport brings together the most experienced players in the Americas. 

During the match, Peruvian fans claimed their status as hosts with their usual chants, while Venezuelan fans sang their own softball chants.

Both fanbases cheered on their teams in each inning, trying to outdo each other in terms of passion and energy at all times. In each grandstand, fans sang so joyfully that the stadium came alive with celebration. It seemed as if the championship final were taking place.

The match result was not favorable for Peru, as they lost 5-3 against the Venezuelan team. In spite of this, Peruvian spectators’ support remained constant until the end of the match. With this event, the opening day of women’s softball competitions came to an end.

The Peruvian women’s softball team coach, Manuel Llames Cabrera, stated that “fans are the eleventh player, so their presence is very important for us. Their constant support is very valuable because they can see the results of the team’s demanding training.”

At the end of the match, the Peruvian team thanked their fans for cheering on them. Even though the Peruvian team did not win, it remains clear that they will always be supported by their fans in upcoming competitions.

They are seen wearing their blue and white wigs and cheering their team up at every moment. Dressed in the multicolored shirts of their favorite clubs, they are always present in every important competition the Argentinian basketball team participates in. They are drawn by an immeasurable passion, born 14 years ago, in the golden generation led by Emanuel Ginóbili. Since then, a group of 25 fans from different provinces of Argentina gather together to follow their team. Lima 2019 is not an exception. 

Nowadays, there are different idols. Now, they encourage Facundo Campazzo or Luis Scola, but the “albiceleste” identity never changes. They were also present on the Eduardo Dibós Coliseum stands, full of joy and encouraging their team to make the dream of the Pan American gold true. 

“La Banda Loca” follows the Argentina team since 2004, when the golden generation lead by "Manu" Ginóbili was born. We're going to the world championship in China at the end of the month. We are crazy for the Argentinian basketball team. It's in our blood,” said Silvio, who was born in Chubut. 

Another fan called “doctor Rosso”, who came from San Luis province, firmly said. “This is a team that always surprises us and gives us joy. They convinced us one day Argentina will be a world champion or an Olympic champion. This team embodies the true spirit of Argentinian sports. The game identity football doesn't have and basketball never lost,” he concluded. 

“La Banda Loca” has already been to four Olympic Games, three FIBA World Championships, and three Pan American Games. The Argentinian basketball team will always have the support of their fans in the most important competitions. 

Tomorrow, Monday, August 5, Miguel Valencia will represent Peru in men’s trampoline gymnastics. He will try to win the gold at the Lima 2019 Pan American Games. 

Valencia will face off the representatives of Dominican Republic, Mexico, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Cuba. 

Furthermore, Peru will seek to win a medal in groups in rhythmic gymnastics (three hoops and two pairs of clubs). They will compete against groups from the United States, Brazil, Venezuela, Cuba, Mexico, and Canada. 

The Peruvian team that will participate in this sports discipline is made up of Camila Rodríguez, Aitana Orrego, Georgina Vidalón, Carmen León, and Flavia Paula León. 

Argentina, Colombia, the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Venezuela, and Dominican Republic will be featured in women’s trampoline gymnastics All of these competitions will take place at the Villa El Salvador Sports Center.  

As for rhythmic gymnastics, athletes will take part in the clubs and ribbons finals, hoping to claim the gold, silver or bronze. 

The clubs finals will feature representatives from the United States, Canada, Brazil, Colombia, and Argentina. Meanwhile, Brazil, Mexico, the United States, Colombia, and Canada will participate in ribbons. 

The springboard diving finals will take place at the VIDENA Aquatic Center. There, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Colombia, Mexico, Brazil, the United States and Canada will compete for the gold. 

Likewise, the first medals will be disputed in table tennis and fencing, sports that have attracted hundreds of fans as reflected in the ticket sales.  

The Argentinian, Brazilian, Chilean and Mexican handball teams made it to the semifinals of the Pan American Games and will also compete for a spot on the podium tomorrow, Monday, August 5.  

The final handball match will take place at the VIDENA Sports Center 1, and the stands are expected to be packed. 

There will also be other competitions such as equestrian, hockey, Basque pelota, water polo, racquetball, softball, and sailing at the different venues of the Pan American Games. 

The Pan American Games will be held from July 26 to August 11. It will feature 6680 athletes who will compete in 39 sports and 61 disciplines. Twenty-one of these disciplines are qualifiers for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. 

With an overwhelming joy, the same that thousands of fans that fill up every day the different sports venues of the Lima 2019 Pan American Games share, the volleyball silver medalist at the Seoul 1988 Olympic Games, Cecilia Tait, qualified as a “great honor” to have carried the Pan American Torch.

The outstanding former volleyball player, who was in charge of lighting the cauldron at the Lima 2019 Opening Ceremony, thanked the massive support of the Peruvian public in the different disciplines in which Peru is competing.

She also said that she will attend the basketball and athletics finals, as she recalled that last Friday she was enjoying a good basketball match at the renovated Eduardo Dibós Coliseum in San Borja, a venue she qualified as “wonderful”.

PROMISE FULFILLED

Cecilia Tait was also rooting for the Peruvian pair Ángela Mori and Francesca Vargas in their table tennis match, where they faced the Dominican pair Esmerlyn Castro and Yasiris Ortiz, in table number 1 at the Sports Center 3 of the National Sports Village (VIDENA).

The results aside, what remains is the support shown by the former South American volleyball champion to our compatriots. “Let me dream,” she said to a fan of Dominican Republic, who celebrated the triumph of her compatriots in advance.

Her presence in this table tennis match has an explanation that goes back to her training days with the former technical director of the volleyball national team, Man Bok Park.

“When we arrived late to a training session, Man Bok Park would made us run. And where do you think we ended up? In table tennis. I have learned something. I interviewed Ángela Mori, and I told her that I would be there to cheer her. I kept my word,” she said.

It is worth mentioning that Ángela Mori will have another chance to win a medal for Peru on Monday, when she faces Yadira Silva from Mexico in singles, starting at 11:00, in table 1 of the Sports Center 3 of VIDENA.

The clamor of the fans had a main role in the debut of the Peruvian women's water polo team against Mexico, by the preliminary of group B in the Lima 2019 Pan American Games.

In this context, the grandstands of this venue at the Villa María del Triunfo Sports Center were pigmented by a characteristic red and white, which the fans carried to testify that the entire Peru was playing. 

They gathered together to claim the performance of the seven athletes who represent Peru for the first time in this sport at the Pan American Games.

Despite the adverse outcome against the experienced Mexican team, they did not lose their bravery. The unconditional support of the Peruvian fans was essential to score a discount from the hand of the youngest player of the Peruvian squad, Nizerrat Gauthier.

“I was thrilled to see my cousins, aunts and grandmother motivating me from the grandstands to score a goal. The relatives of my teammates attended as well. And when you're in the water, the words of encouragement motivate you to keep going because you realize that you play the role of representing Peru,” stated the Peruvian by the end of the game.

The clock strikes 13:00 at the Pan American Village and delegations are entering the wide dining room or going to the Lima Culinary Tour, section. They immediately go to the ají de gallina: that mixture of yellow hues, of hen pieces with chopped nuts, Parmesan cheese, coriander and olives. One of the many typical foods we have and became Lima 2019 MVP.

This way, this typical food joins the podium, along with quinoa—a millenary cereal that has conquered the world—, of foods that have drawn much attention and are now enjoyed by athletes.

Giorgio Mautino, mayor of the Pan American Village, expressed his satisfaction because everything is working well: not only the food distribution for athletes, but also the transportation times of athletes for their competitions, cleaning of the bedrooms, security in the Sports Center, and health.

In a nutshell: zero complaints in the first competition week and he trusts everything will continue this way until the end of the greatest multi-sports event in the continent.

He explained that the work, mainly of Sodexo's team in the kitchen, is to highlight: a total of 700,000 meals are expected to be served until the end of the Games, during 22 hours a day. This is because the dining room works in two shifts to be always attentive to the needs of the athletes and for the elaborated variety in the buffet. Athletes can choose among many options: Peruvian food, meat, carbohydrates, salads and fruits.

On his part, Aldo Cardini, head of the chefs of Sodexo, the company in charge of the catering service provided to the athletes, pointed out that they have made a combination of international and Peruvian foods, such as solterito, salpicón, salads, mote soup, tomato and mushroom cream, pescado a la chorrillana, which are enjoyed by the delegations at the Pan American Village.

He also pointed out that the attention, approximately by hour, is of 1200 people, being the dinner the moment of greater demand and concentration, between 20:00 and 21:00 hours In addition, a new space has been implemented for the preparation of 400 wok dishes daily inside the dining room, among which are arroz chaufa, saltado de pollo, and lomo saltado.

For this reason, two shifts of work have been distributed so that the transition in the distribution of food never stops: a staff of 600 people is in charge of the preparation of food, the selection of organic products that are used in the kitchen, kitchen assistants, chef, nutritionists, a whole army of professionals who make everything go well.

Finally, Cardini explained that almost 600 kg of bananas, a ton of animal proteins (meat and chicken), 200 liters of soup, and 600 liters of natural fruit juice are consumed daily.  

Great hosts. Hundreds of people, both Peruvian and foreign, flooded the streets of Miraflores district to enthusiastically cheer on the athletes participating in the much-anticipated race walking event at the Lima 2019 Pan American Games. The Peruvian team took part in both men’s and women’s events.

The spectators showed their commitment to the athletes by respecting the rules for the event: not throwing objects to the competition track, not throwing water at the athletes, not taking pets and not obstructing the circuit. The duly announced road closure was also complied with by the public.

As a result, the sports event unfolded without any interruptions, displaying a high quality in terms of organization. The #LetsAllPlay motto was embraced by the spectators, who wore t-shirts and flags of their respective countries to root for their national athletes.

Among the spectators were the relatives of Kimberly García León, silver medal winner in the women's 20 kilometer event. They praised the athlete’s “feat” considering she is injured.

“We’re proud of her for this new record. What she did today was quite a feat because she has a knee injury. Even so, she made a huge effort and won a medal for Peru. Long live Peru!” said her mother, Gabriela León, who was carrying her own stopwatch to measure her daughter’s time. They arrived from Huánuco.

Mayor of Lima Jorge Muñoz awarded the medals to the women’s event winners. The gold medal went to Colombian Sandra Arenas, while Peruvian Kimberly García and Brazilian Erica Sena were awarded silver and bronze, respectively.

Another member of the Peruvian team was Mary Luz Andia, who is only 18 years old. She finished in the 10th place. “I’m satisfied with my performance. I’m young and I still have a lot to give. This is part of my experience and I’m sure that I’ll have better results soon because that’s what I’m training for,” she explained upon reaching the finish line.   

In the men’s event, the gold went to Ecuadorian Brian Pintado, the silver medal was for Brazilian Caio Oliveira and the bronze medal was awarded to Guatemalan José Barrondo. The only Peruvian who took part in this competition, José Mamani, was disqualified.