Visitors from abroad, athletes and national fans filled the grandstands each time a competition was held for the Pan American and Parapan American Games, and one of the venues that dazzled them the most was the Callao Sports Center, which reopened its doors to house the largest event in Peruvian volleyball.

The sports center, which was built entirely within the Callao Regional Village, with capacity for 6100 people and a world-class surface court, will be the stage of the XVIII National Women's Volleyball Superior League, in its highest category. As of November 16, athletes and fans will be able to enjoy the first-class facilities that were left as a legacy for national sports and Callao.

The tournament is organized by the Peruvian Volleyball Federation and will have the participation of top national and international volleyball players who will come to reinforce the Peruvian teams. Competitions start on November 16 and 17, and the next matches will take place on November 23 and 24, and on November 30 and December 1. The competition will then resume on January 18.

The clubs participating in this championship are Alianza Lima, Universidad San Martin, Circolo Sportivo Italiano, Regatas Lima, Universidad César Vallejo, Jaamsa, Deportivo Alianza, Sporting Cristal, Géminis, and Rebaza Acosta.

The Callao Sports Center housed the women’s and men’s volleyball competitions, as well as taekwondo, during the Pan American Games. During the Parapan American Games, it was venue for the sitting volleyball and Para taekwondo competitions. This modern infrastructure will offer the same top-quality conditions for upcoming competitions, such as the National Volleyball League.

Lima 2019 allowed the construction and remodeling of a modern sports infrastructure, which has remained as a legacy for future national and international competitions, as well as for the preparation of athletes.

Starting tomorrow, Las Palmas Shooting Range in Surco, one of the new venues delivered for Lima 2019 for shooting and Para shooting events, will host the 6th Ibero-American Shotgun Championships in skeet and trap modalities, which will count on the participation of 40 shooters from Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Guatemala and Brazil, as well as national representatives.

Giorgio Mautino, Lima 2019 spokesperson, said that this event demonstrates that these venues are fully operational and in the best conditions, as they were during the Pan American and Parapan American Games.

“The days after the Games are as important as the Games themselves. The infrastructure will be required by many countries and that will allow a continuity of events. We are regularizing everything related to the delivery of the venues and we hope that the use will be spectacular.” “The Pan American and Parapan American Games have left a legacy in terms of sports culture, because many people have seen opportunities in many sport disciplines,” said Mautino.

Francisco Boza, Olympic medalist in Los Angeles 1984, also addressed the importance of using the sports infrastructure. “Let it be the beginning of great international events, so that people can take advantage of this Shooting Range, which is one of the best in the world.” He also added that “this venue is complete, as all three weapons can be used. Peru needed this sports infrastructure, we are now reaching international standards.”

For his part, Nicolás Pacheco—Pan American medalist and qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics—who will be participating in this international event, mentioned that “for me, this Shooting Range is one of the best in the world and a dream come true. We will be able to hold first-class championships. Also, a venue like this will allow me to improve my record and achieve my dream of claiming an Olympic medal for my country.” 

SCHOOL SPORTS GAMES AT VIDENA

Simultaneously, VIDENA will be stage of the 27th National School Sports Games until September 27, with the participation of 2600 students from 24 regions. One of the first venues to be used was the modern Aquatic Center, one of the best in the continent, where 13-year-old Alexia Sotomayor—who was part of the Peruvian Pan American delegation—showcased her skills after winning three gold medals in the 50 m freestyle, 50 m backstroke and relay events.

At VIDENA, students from all over the country also compete in the new Athletics Stadium, under the same conditions offered to the top athletes and Para athletes who participated at the Pan American and Parapan American Games.

VILLA MARÍA DEL TRIUNFO

Meanwhile, the National Hockey Championship will be inaugurated this Sunday in the two hockey pitches built at the Villa María del Triunfo Sports Center, which will reopen its doors for this competition. Admission will be free.

This will be an unprecedented event, as this is the first time a tournament of this discipline will be held in the country; a clear example of the Lima 2019 legacy. A total of nine teams will participate: four in women’s and five in men’s. The teams in women’s will be: San Silvestre Sport, Colegio Mater Admirábilis, OMA and Lima Cricket. The teams in men’s will be: OMA, Lions, Libardoni, Lima Cricket and Santa María Sport.

Competitions will start this Sunday 22 at 09:00 in the Villa Maria’s main pitch, with the matches between San Silvestre Sport vs. Mater Admirábilis (women’s); OMA vs. Lima Cricket (men’s) and Lima Cricket vs. OMA (women’s). Pitch 2 will host the match between Santa María Sport vs. Lions (men’s) starting at 12:00.

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The successful organization and development of the Lima 2019 Pan American and Parapan American Games is an example that can be replicated in other public institutions because of the management model applied to hold the Americas' most important multi-sports event. 

For this reason, Congresswoman Alejandra Aramayo invited the President of the Lima 2019 Organizing Committee, Carlos Neuhaus, to share the successful experience with the management model applied at the Games, in the First Technical Working Group known as “Mechanisms for Prioritization, Execution and Innovation of the Procurement System in the Healthcare Sector”. 

Neuhaus said that the Games' success was achieved by applying several mechanisms for rapid budget execution, including the Government-to-Government agreement which supported the management of the works execution model, the incorporation of the Project Management Office (PMO) and, for infrastructure works, the NEC (New Engineering Contract), “which made it possible to move forward with the construction work without delays.” “Everything about bids and calls was posted on the website, so we had an average of up to 40 bidders for each project,” Neuhaus emphasized. 

Juan Carlos Meléndez, head of the Lima 2019 Administration Office, also participated in the meeting, explaining the procurement systems for the Games. “We applied different procurement methods. We included a platform to record proposals for foreign suppliers and thus boost international competition, which allowed us to obtain lower prices. We also implemented software remotely connected to the National Registry of Suppliers to invite all Government suppliers to quote in a transparent way,” he said. 

Meléndez stated that the expenses of the Lima 2019 project reached PEN 582 million, in terms of acquisitions of goods and services, while PEN 1277 million was allocated to infrastructure works. In addition, through a resource management agreement with UNOPS, an amount of PEN 386 million was implemented. In addition, goods amounting to PEN 24 million were procured through the “Compras a MyPerú” program, benefiting over 300 micro and small enterprises. 

Among the recommendations made by Lima 2019 for the healthcare system procurement is strengthening the framework agreement to meet immediate needs. Carlos Neuhaus pointed out the need to be creative and do things well, as well as to generate spaces for competition to lower prices, and apply anti-corruption mechanisms, as was done in Lima 2019, making the entire process transparent. 

The Lima 2019 Games became the starting point for modernized sports venues, which have made Peru an eligible destination for national and international sports competitions.  

The venues are fully operational and in optimal conditions, as they were at the Lima 2019 Pan American and Parapan American Games. The fact that five national and international competitions are held this week proves this. 

The 27th Peruvian School Sports Games start today and will run until September 27, with more than 2600 students from 24 regions in competition. Competitions have already started at the modern Aquatic Center in VIDENA, one of the best in the Americas. This is where Alexia Sotomayor, the youngest athlete in the Peruvian delegation at the Pan American Games, showed all her skill to win the gold medals in 50m freestyle, 50m backstroke and relay. 

The students will also compete at the new VIDENA Athletics Stadium in the same competition conditions of those athletes participating in the Pan American and Parapan American Games. 

LAS PALMAS SHOOTING RANGE 

Las Palmas Shooting Range is another Lima 2019 venue holding an international event, built for shooting and Para shooting events. This is where Marko Carrillo and Nicolás Pacheco stepped onto the podium at the Pan American Games, with Jorge Arcela doing so at the Parapan American Games. The 6th Ibero-American Shotgun Championships will take place this week at this venue, in skeet and trap events.  

Official training sessions begin tomorrow and Thursday, and the competitions will be held from Friday 20 to Sunday 22. The event is organized by the FDNTP (Peruvian Shooting Federation). 

The Peruvian team will consist of Alessandro de Souza, Nicolás Pacheco, Asier Cillóniz, Marco Matellini and Flavio Artoni, among the main representatives. Around 40 shooters from Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Guatemala and Brazil will participate, as well as the Peruvian team. 

VILLA MARÍA DEL TRIUNFO 

The National Field Hockey Championship will take place this Sunday on the two fields built at the Villa María del Triunfo Sports Center, which will reopen its door for this competition. Admission will be free of charge for all those who want to attend this competition in Southern Lima. 

It will be an unprecedented event, as it is the first edition of this hockey competition, where nine teams (four women’s and five men’s) will compete. San Silvestre Sport, Colegio Mater Admirábilis, OMA and Lima Cricket teams will participate in the women’s events. OMA, Lions, Libardoni, Lima Cricket and Santa María Sport teams will take part in the men’s events. 

Matches between San Silvestre Sport and Mater Admirábilis (women’s); OMA and Lima Cricket (men’s), and Lima Cricket and OMA (women’s) will be played this Sunday 22, starting at 09:00 at the main field of the Villa Maria del Triunfo Sports Center. Santa María Sport will face off Lions (men’s) at field 2, starting at 12:00. 

The Peruvian School Sports Games are underway and three Para sports have been included in this school tournament for the first time, based on the recent success of the Parapan American Games. 

The competition for school students was opened last Monday 16 with the presence of Peruvian President Martín Vizcarra, Minister of Education Flor Pablo, Minister for Women Affairs Gloria Montenegro, Minister of Foreign Trade Edgar Vásquez, as well as the Lima 2019 President Carlos Neuhaus and various authorities. 

Para swimming, Para athletics and sitting volleyball competitions will be held for the first time at the School Games, something highlighted by President Vizcarra. “We're living these Games with the same enthusiasm as Lima 2019. Inclusion is part of the Games' legacy, so making these three Para sports part of this event is worthy of note. This is how he start becoming an integrated society. In addition, competitions will be held at the venues where Lima 2019 events took place. The efforts involved in constructing these premises are for the citizens. The competitions will be held at the venues and facilities will be provided for training,” said the President. 

Milco, the Lima 2019 Official Mascot, also participated in the opening of this school sports event. Medalists such as Pilar Jáuregui, Pedro Pablo de Vinatea, María Fernanda Reyes, Carlos Felipa and José María Lúcar participated in these Games' opening event. 

This morning, the current edition of the Peruvian School Sports Games (JDEN 2019), organized by the Ministry of Education through the Bureau of Physical Education and Sport, was presented at the stunning VIDENA Aquatic Center, with the participation of the Lima 2019 Pan American and Parapan American Games medalists. 

Two weeks after the Parapan American Games ended, one of the Lima 2019 venues will reopen its doors, starting this Monday, to host this school sports event that will gather representatives from the 24 regions of Peru.   

Precisely, the swimming competitions will take place at the modern Aquatic Center. The Athletics Stadium, which recently gathered the best athletes in the Americas, will also be used for these Games. Schoolchildren will be able to compete at the highest level in the same conditions. 

The presentation featured Flor Pablo, Minister of Education; Carlos Neuhaus, president of the Lima 2019 Organizing Committee; Sebastián Suito, head of the Peruvian Sports Institute; Susana Córdova from MINEDU’s Bureau of Physical Education and Sport; and Pan American and Parapan American Games medalists María Fernanda Reyes and Piccolo Clemente, Para athlete Carlos Felipa and boxer José María Lúcar; as well as Kimberly Cardoza and Alexia Sotomayor, who competed in the Pan American Games in athletics and swimming, respectively. 

In this meeting, the Minister of Education highlighted the organization of the School Games in the venues built for Lima 2019. “Being in these Lima 2019 facilities is impressive, because they have left us an important legacy, not only in infrastructure. Lima 2019 also left us a cultural and emotional legacy for a country that looks forward to the Bicentennial with hope.” 

“Lima 2019 gave us the opportunity to confirm that we can do things well when we work together. It also allowed us to show our valuable culture. From now on, we hope to establish an alliance so that sports at school will become the starting point to reach high-level competitions,” said the minister. 

Meanwhile, Carlos Neuhaus, on behalf of Lima 2019, expressed his satisfaction with the organization of the School Games in Pan American and Parapan American venues. “These venues are evidence that the effort was worth it. Seeing so many schoolchildren here will be important, because surely more than one of them will reach the Olympic Games, after previously taking part in the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games. My recent work experience was very exciting and beautiful, especially because the athletes filled us with emotion and made history with the number of medals they won. The impact of the Lima 2019 Games was positive and good for Peru. We have done things well, but this was everyone’s job. The Games filled us with pride and motivation, and made an impact on young people. We are still working here,” Neuhaus said. 

More than 2600 students from 24 regions of Peru will participate in the Peruvian School Sports Games, in addition to 154 Para athletes, who will compete for the first time in this type of school tournaments, with the slogan “Everything Begins Here”. The Games will take place from September 16 to 27, 2019. During this period, the best Peruvian school athletes and Para athletes will put their sports skills to the test in a fair competition that will strengthen a healthy school environment. 

IN THE BEST CONDITIONS 

Lima 2019 will grant the use of the 50-meter pool and the warm-up pool of the Aquatic Center, as well as the grandstands seating approximately 2400 people, for this school competition. 

They will be able to use the main 400-meter track at the Athletics Stadium, and the 400-meter track and warm-up areas, as well as the western grandstand, for approximately 3000 people, the long jump pits and the main field for javelin, shot put, discus and hammer throw events. 

School athletes and Para athletes will be able to compete in the best conditions and on stages where world-class stars shone, such as American Nathan Adrian, winner of eight Olympic gold medals; or Omara Durand, the fastest woman in the Paralympic world and winner of three gold medals at Lima 2019. 

This is how Lima 2019 seeks to contribute to forge future generations, inspired by Olympic and Paralympic values, with world-class sports venues to use sports as a tool for social transformation. 

The Lima 2019 Pan American and Parapan American Games have set another precedent at an international level by being considered the first environmentally responsible Pan American and Parapan American Games in history.  

The Lima 2019 Organizing Committee, in agreement with the National Agency of Natural Areas Protected by the Government and the Ministry of the Environment, developed a master plan to minimize, quantify and neutralize the pollution generated during the full duration of the Games, held from July 26 to September 1. 

As a part of this plan, a solid waste management strategy was developed to enable recycling a number of elements. For example, 370 thousand 625 ml bottles were recycled thanks to the differentiated bins installed and other recycling mechanisms in the sports precincts and the villages where the athletes stayed. 

Likewise, 28,707.60 kg of cardboard, 12,289.90 kg of plastic and 1,486.60 kg of paper were recycled. With these numbers, Lima 2019 avoided the felling of 1500 trees, on average, significantly minimizing the deforestation of the country’s forests. 

Lima 2019 seeks to leave an environmental legacy for the entire continent by compensating for the pollution generated and measuring the event’s carbon footprint, as well as mitigating it by purchasing carbon credits. 

In this way, by laying emphasis on good environmental practices, Lima 2019 sets a milestone in the history of the Pan American and Parapan American Games, with the aim of serving as an example at a continental level for upcoming competitions. 

The National School Sports Games have always been a great opportunity to discover potential sporting talent for Peru. School is the ideal place to instill values in our children, teenagers and young people that will allow them to be better members of Peruvian society. 

Reflecting the motto “Everything starts here”, 11 athletes who represented Peru at the Lima 2019 Pan American Games originally competed in the School Games, a first experience in the sports that they are now best known for. In fact, they stood out in many of the 15 disciplines that are part of the multi-sports event starting on September 16. 

Take, for example, race walker Kimberly García, Lima 2019 silver medal and qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Back in 2008, she won the gold in the race walk event at the national stage of the School Games and since them, she trained to stand out in its discipline. “I want to tell the children to enjoy the competition. Whether they win or lose, [they should] always compete with great spirit,” she said. 

Likewise, swimmer Paula Tamashiro twice beat the national 100m breaststroke record at Lima 2019, a record which had stood for 11 years. She participated in this school event in 2013, 2014 and 2015. Now it is over to the students to compete in the VIDENA Aquatic Center and beat their own times. 

Talents in women's handball also emerged at the School Games, to be eventually called up for the senior Peruvian team. This is the case of top scorer Ariana Cruz, Angie Vásquez, Camila Delgado and María Miranda, who were part of the team who represented Peru at the last Pan American Games. 

Other elite Pan American athletes in this group are Clarivet Yllescas and Ángela Leyva (volleyball); Noemí Huayhuameza (judo); Alexia Sotomayor, who is participating in this School Games edition; and karateka John Trebejo, who originally competed in athletics. 

The dreams of the athletes of the future start on Monday, September 16. Join them by showing your support from the stands. Admission is free.

Carlos Neuhaus, president of the Lima 2019 Organizing Committee, received the Medal of the Order of the Chamber for the work carried out in the Lima 2019 Games. 

Lima 2019 has left lasting memories in the country because of its successful delivery and the joys the athletes and Para athletes gave us with their outstanding performances and record breaking have put the world’s spotlight on Peru. 

For this reason, the Lima Chamber of Commerce (CCL) through their president, Yolanda Torriani, recognized the organization of the largest multi-sports event in the continent, which took place for the first time in Peru, by awarding Carlos Neuhaus the Medal of the Order of the Chamber in the grade of “Gran Oficial,” for his outstanding work as the team leader that made the success of the Lima 2019 Games possible. 

The Foreign Trade and Tourism minister, Edgar Vasquez; the mayor of Lima, Jorge Muñoz; the United Kingdom ambassador, Kate Harrisson; and representatives of several agencies that are part of the Chamber of Commerce were all present at the ceremony. 

Carlos Neuhaus highlighted the role of the Lima Chamber of Commerce in the development of the Games, as they were the ones who supported the call of the companies that participated in the different tendering processes for the main infrastructure projects developed for Lima 2019. 

“We have worked as a team and this recognition is for everyone who gave their time for the success of the Games. We were able to develop the plans by having, among other things, a Government-to-Government Agreement with the United Kingdom. Peru is the only country that applied this method for management while other countries use it only for purchases. We are now working on the legacy, in order to make the most of everything that was built and remodeled for Lima 2019. Sports are never going to be an expense, they are an investment,” commented Neuhaus.

“The Chamber of Commerce was very important for Lima 2019, because they helped call over 800 people, in the first stage, who were representatives from more than 300 companies that later participated in a transparent tendering processes for the main infrastructure projects. They were part of our success. We had a great experience, and even more so in the Parapan American Games with our hero athletes. We had media coverage of over a billion dollars and over 400 million people all over the world followed the competitions,” added the Lima 2019 president. 

Meanwhile the president of the Chamber of Commerce, Yolanda Torriani, praised the work carried out by Carlos Neuhaus and the Lima 2019 team. “This has been one of the greatest events due to its organization and results. We have proven that Peruvians are capable of getting things done if there is a steadfast determination to make them happen. The organization brought together efficacy and determination, and that gave us these unforgettable Games. They are leaving a valuable legacy for Peru and have made the country shine at an international level. We hope that the Games’ model is replicated in other projects,” stated Torrani during her speech before giving the medal to Carlos Neuhaus.

Medalist from the Pan American and Parapan American Games, the ones who left everything on the field to give us more than one joy, received an award from the Mayor of Lima, Jorge Muñoz, in the presence of the President of Peru, Martín Vizcarra. 

Once the ceremony was over, one of them had to take the floor and the responsible was the Parapan American Para badminton champion, who excitedly stated: “I want to thank you for this moment, as it will help us to move forward.”  

Pilar pointed out that the opinion towards the Para athletes has changed a lot thanks to the Games. “Lima 2019 has given us many opportunities, not only in terms of sports but also socially, as these Games have allowed our country to continue growing with respect, values and to become a more inclusive society.”  

Lima 2019 Ambassador said that the Games allowed the athletes and Para athletes to fulfill their dreams of being champions. “Lima 2019 is not over, this has just began, because in terms of sports, society and education, we have to move forward,” she added.   

The following Parapan American medalists were also present in the ceremony: Pedro Pablo de Vinatea, Angélica Espinoza, Rosbil Guillén, Jorge Arcela, Carlos Felipa, William Fernández, Jesús Salvá and Fred Villalobos.  

Likewise, the following Pan American medalists also attended this celebration: John Trebejo, Carlos Lam, Natalia Cuglievan, Alonso Wong, María Fernanda Reyes, Marcela Castillo, Leodan Pezo, José María Lúcar, Yuliana Bolívar, Sol Romaní, Saida Salcedo, Mallory Aco, Ariana Vera, Renzo Saux, Marko Carrillo, Nicolás Pacheco, Luis Bardelez, Thalía Mallqui, Nathaly Paredes, Mía Rodríguez, Itzel Delgado, and Hugo del Castillo, who was represented by his father.  

In this meeting—attended by the President of the National Paralympic Association of Peru, Luisa Villar, and the International Olympic Committee representative, Iván Dibós—the President of the Lima 2019 Games Organizing Committee, Carlos Neuhaus, also received an award.  

Thus, a fair recognition was given to our athletes and Para athletes, who heightened Peru’s name at Lima 2019.