Milco, the Parapan American Games official mascot has become quite a popular figure among children. At Culturaymi, the Lima 2019 cultural program held at Parque de la Exposición, children make and paint masks. They also design comic-style posters with the image of the Cuchimilco, the Chancay clay statuette.

University teacher Karen Fasabi is responsible for both initiatives along with Asociación Cultural Las Shicras and the Círculo de Estudios “Cultura para Todos”, formed by students of the tourism and hospitality career at the Inca Garcilaso de la Vega University.

“Milco is not only the Pan American and Parapan American Games mascot, he has also become a cultural ambassador. Through him, children know and broaden their knowledge of the Chancay culture, to which he belongs,” pointed out Fasabi.

The archaeologist Walter Tosso is the advisor of these education proposals. He is the President of the Asociación Cultural Las Shicras and has been dedicated to exhaustive research into the Chancay culture for several years.

The “Creating a Milco Comic Poster” workshop, held at the Culturaymi auditorium, was directed by teachers from the Poussin Design Institute. They gave participants didactic guidelines to achieve a more exact approach to the comic version of the Cuchimilco, and notions of the history of the Chancay culture.

The picturesque Cuchimilco was represented in masks, through the “Make your own Milco mask” workshop at the Lima Art Museum (MALI), as part of the Culturaymi activities. Many children poured their creativity to give color to this character that has become the most famous of the Chancay culture. A unique strategy that brings them even closer to the history of Peru and has Milco as an ally of culture.

He could not hide his joy. He shared a never-ending hug with Yuliana Bolívar, the Pan American medalist who attended his match. Fred Villalobos reached the Parapan American podium for judo and had the audience of VIDENA’s Sports Center 3 on the edge of their seats. 

“Let’s all play, that’s the first thing I’d like to say, but what’s most important is how happy I am for this achievement. It doesn’t matter if I achieved it, what matters is what has been achieved,” said the Para athlete , who participated for the first time in this competition for people with visual impairment.

Villalobos feels like he has achieved the main goal: reaching the podium. “It was part of the plan. We knew that many of my contenders were Olympic champions but I wasn’t going to let them knock me down. The judoka from the US was strong and I had to hold him on the ground, that was the mission,” he added

He also said that “the psychological aspect is very important, but we can’t overlook the physical and spiritual part, it’s a trinomial that can help a person be complete as a human being.”

The 28-year-old was born in Lima but lived in Arequipa since he was a child, due to his father’s work.  In this city, he went to school and university, where he studied Law and discovered judo as an extracurricular activity. “I’ve been practicing judo for four years. That’s where my passion for this sport began. Since last year, I’ve been practicing it professionally. It used to be a hobby, and now I’m here,” he stated.

“We’re over 139 athletes in 17 sports. We’ve already won some medals and there will be many more to come, proving that Peru has guts. We’ve also demonstrated that we can organize Pan American and Parapan American Games and, in the near future, the Olympic and Paralympic Games,” he added

Still excited about the medal, Fred concluded with an emotional message. “All I’m saying is that it is possible, and that the ‘Arriba Peru” should be in each of our hearts. Don’t get disheartened; we all fall, but like good athletes, we know how to get back up. Only you limit yourself. We need to keep moving forward; let this be an example of persistence.” 

The bonds between athletes can be very intense, despite there not being any blood relations. The hug between the Peruvian judoka Yuliana Bolívar, Pan American Games medalist, with Fred Villalobos, Parapan American Games bronze medalist, proves that genuine affection comes from the soul.

This friendship arose two years ago during training sessions in VIDENA and they reunited this morning during a glorious episode of Peruvian sports. Bolívar, who volunteered for the judo competition, congratulated the Peruvian Para athlete as soon as he left the tatami and left us a captivating image. Fred’s visual impairment did not stand in the way of their embrace.

“Fred is and has always been a good friend of mine, form the day we first met two years ago, when neither of us had won anything. That closeness created a mutual bond. That’s why he showed me his affection when he noticed my presence. I admire Fred because he’s a great human being and I’m happy that we now both share a bronze medal in the Games,” said Yuliana Bolívar. Fred Villalobos proved that Peru has guts at the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games.

Since she arrived from Venezuela, Fred is one of the members of the big Peruvian judoka family she was able to build. “I’m proud of being Peruvian. Having an achievement in sports doesn’t mean I’m any less human. I’m always going to support my friends from Judo, because they opened their hearts to me when I needed it the most, said the Peruvian athlete.

At the end of the day at VIDENA’s Sports Center 2, Yuliana was approached by fans who asked her for autographs and photos. “I didn’t expect so much affection from people and it’s rewarding to not only have the support of my Judo family, but also the Peruvian public. That’s worth more than any medal,” she concluded.

The Lima 2019 Organization through the Soy Lima 2019 campaign delivered free tickets to near 500 students from Villa El Salvador so the students may watch the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games competitions.

Schools are: 7077 Virgen del Carmen, 7216 Villa de Jesús, 6070 Héroes del Cenepa, 6067 Juan Velasco Alvarado and 6069 Pacahacútec.

Students watched with excitement every play from the Para athletes in wheelchairs scoring.

Carmen Espino, Director of School 7077 Virgen del Carmen, expressed how it is important for students to see and value the effort of the athletes participating in the Parapan American Games.

“We are an inclusive school with children with special needs. Helping and admiring people who face their difficulties and succeed was a challenge for us”, she said.

Sofia Paredes, student from the same school said she learned to appreciate the courage and the effort from people with impairments.

Silveria Bonilla, principal of Education institution No. 7216, Villa de Jesus, thanked Lima 2019 for the free tickets and said that after the competition, students understood that we were all equal and learned about inclusion in the Parapan American Games.

35 140 tickets will be given to 57 education institutions (out of which 22 121 tickets are for day-time competitions and 13 019 for the evening sessions).

When attending, students must be with a teacher, parent and/or staff member of the Regional Direction of Education of Metropolitan Lima (DRELM) and the Regional Direction of El Callao (DREC).

The main goal is for the students to assimilate the values of the Parapan American Games: courage, determination, equality and inspiration.

The Soy Lima 2019 campaign started in April with Lima 2019 staff visiting different schools with some sociocultural animations and high performance athletes to share the importance of the Olympic and Paralympic values.

A beautiful sunrise on Sunday On the fourth day of competitions of the Parapan American Games, the Peruvian delegation won a new medal with a great performance of Jorge Arcela from Ayacucho in shooting Para sport.

Arcela, a brave member of the Peruvian Police who defeated death, shot until the end for the gold in the competition of 10m air rifle prone SH1, but the American Taylor Farmer got the gold medal in the last shot with an accumulated score of 250.2. The Peruvian athlete obtained 250.1 and placed second with the silver medal.

Arcela kept among the first places during the last stage of the competition, which helped him obtain a silver medal since Farmer was more accurate in the last shot. See the competition results of the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games. 

The Peruvian Para athlete is a role model because he defeated death when crime tried to take his life during the time he was a police officer in Trujillo. He got better and now brought great joy to Peru and his family, who accompanied him in Las Palmas Shooting Range.

“I want to thank my family for this medal. They were always by my side. Thanks to my dear Ayacucho. Thank God for all the blessings. This is for Peru and everyone who supported me.” Arcela said in tears quite excited.

The medal won by Arcela is the third medal won by the Peruvian representatives at Lima 2019 and the second silver medal after the one won by Luis Sandoval in Para athletics. We have a bronze medal won by Fred Villalobos in judo.

Milagros Palomino is another Peruvian representative who reached the last stage and placed seventh.

These were his first Parapan American Games and he will remember them. Fred Villalobos achieved the bronze medal in the category -81kg in judo.

At 28 years old, the judoka defeated the American Nathan Ostergaard by Ippon at the VIDENA Sports Center 2 winning the second medal for Peru.

Months before competing, Fred mentioned that “impairment can be an asset to achieve amazing things”.

In this category, the gold medal was given to Mexican Eduardo Avila, who became the Parapan Americanchampion for the fourth time in a raw. The Judoka had obtained the gold medal in Rio 2007, Guadalajara 2011 and Toronto 2015. He also obtained gold at the Beijing 2008 and Rio 2016 Paralympics Games.

Gerardo Rodriguez from Cuba obtained the silver medal and Brazilian Harlley Pereira shared the bronze one with Villalobos. 

If you want to enjoy more competitions and supporting the Para athletes, get your tickets on www.lima2019.pe  or at authorized points of sale.

Photo Gallery (click here)

The Lima 2019 Ambassador Dunia Felices thanked this morning the unceasing people’s support at the Aquatic Center in VIDENA, during the first of the five events she will compete in the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games, in the beginning of Para swimming competitions.

She competed in the 50m, backstroke. Placed in the lane 2, the Peruvian athlete swam while people shouted “Peru... Peru... Peru”, reaching the finish line in after one minute, 29 seconds, and 58 hundredths.

“It has been an spectacular experience.  It is not exactly my event, but I am happy to be able to swim at the beginning of the competition; to be the first Peruvian. I wanted to feel this, to participate and receive the applause from the public, to swim in these Games, the truth is, it has been spectacular”, she said.

Heat 2, category S5, was won by the American Alyssa Gialamas (48,80s), followed by the Brazilian Tishe De Souza (54,48s) and Esthefany De Oliveira (57,40s).

MISSION COMPLETED

“The Parapan American Games have just begun, but I was able to seethe achieved goal which is to highlight the Para athletes and show everyone that people with impairments can find in sport a big opportunity to excel, just as I found it two years ago when I started in ANPPERU (The National Paralympic Association of Peru); look at me now, I am swimming here in front of all Peruvian”, she said.

In the afternoon session, another Peruvian will compete. Juan León Durán will compete in the 400m final, freestyle S7, his opponent will be Facundo José Arregui from Argentina who has the Parapan American record in the event with a time of 5min05s93h obtained fours years ago in Toronto.

There is no doubt that Lima 2019 has given Peru top notch sports facilities. The Athletics Stadium is one of them and its infrastructure allows athletes to train and compete at the highest level.

That was confirmed on the first day of Para athletics competitions, where the new Athletics Stadium, specially built for the occasion, witnessed three new world records in Para sport. Brazilian Thiago Paulino broke the world record in shot put, Elizabeth Rodrigues, also from Brazil, did the same in discus throw in the F53 class (Para athletes who compete in sitting position.)

The Brazilian made a throw of 16 m 67 cm, beating the record of the Ukrainian Iana Lebiedieva, with a mark of 14 m 93 cm in August 20, 2019.

The long jump world record was also broken by the American Nelya Schasfoort in the T45 class (physical impairment in arms). The Para athlete jumped a distance of 4 m 26 cm and set a new record in Para athletics. With this, she broke the mark of 4 m 24 cm set by the Brazilian Mariane Santos on June 16, 2012.

Earlier, the Brazilian Thiago Paulino broke the world record in shot put.

TICKETS SALE

To see these brilliant Para athletes during the Parapan American Games, buy your tickets starting at PEN 10. There will be a 50 % discount for minors, senior citizens elderly and people with an impairment. Tickets can be bought at the VIDENA (gate 1 and 10) and at the 11 authorized points of sale in the city.

Tickets can also be purchased online at lima2019.pe/tickets, where you will also find detailed competition schedules. Printing e-tickets will no longer be necessary as customers can show their them on their mobile phones at the venue.

Fans were delighted at first glance and recognized the effort of “Los Chasquis” in the two-hour match against Mexico. Although the football 5-a-side team did not make an auspicious debut at the Parapan American Games, they won the affection of over one thousand attendees at the Villa María del Triunfo Sports Center.

The five Peruvian players gave an example of talent, demonstrating that their passion for the most popular sport in the world transcends any visual impairment. Rony Estrada’s courage to dispute every ball and Brayan Bartolo’s skills, who was about to break the nets and stop the good performance of the goalkeeper José Bolívar, were the most applauded players, in a cold night in Villa María del Triunfo.

The match ended 1-0 for the “Aztecs” and was defined in the last two minutes, when the referee awarded the Mexicans a penalty shot after an infringement committed in the Peruvian area. The Mexican captain, Rubicel De la Cruz, scored the goal from a shot after the penalty kick, even though equality would have been the fairest result.

“We played a good match tactically and physically. Although we put up a fight against a team that reached the podium in the last Copa América, we couldn’t score any goal. However, the boys are moved by the affection of the people and that motivates us to move forward,” said coach Felipe Ramírez.

THE SHOW GOES ON

Colombia gave us the surprise this day, in a 0-0 tie against heavy favorite Brazil, the three-time Olympic and Parapan American champions. The entire match was tight from start to finish. Meanwhile, Argentina’s “Los Murciélagos” defeated Costa Rica 2-0, in a clear victory.

The second matchday begins tomorrow with the classic South American derby between Brazil and Argentina at 15:00. Meanwhile, Colombia vs. Mexico at 17:30. It is played in a round-robin format, while the top two teams compete for the gold medal, on August 30.

CHEER ON THE ATHLETES FROM THE GRANDSTANDS

If you want to enjoy this impressive show, tickets are available at ticket offices of the Villa María del Triunfo Sports Center and at the 11 authorized points of sale around the city. There will be a 50% discount for children under 18, senior citizens and people with an impairment.

Tickets can be also purchased online through lima2019.pe/tickets, where you will also find the competition schedules. In the case of e-tickets, printing will no longer be necessary since customers can show their e-ticket from their mobile phones at the entrance of the sports venue.

She came here to win three medals and already has one. Cuba Omara Durand won her first gold medal in the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games, where she is one of the stars who came to compete alongside the best Para athletes of the continent.

Considered the fastest Para athlete in the world, Omara won by far the 200 m competition, category T12 (people with visual impairment), and added the first medal of the three she came looking for in Peru, since she still has to compete in the 400 m and 100 m events.

Omara Durand won the competition along with her guide Yuniol Kindelán, with a time of 23s67c, which equaled the Pan American record. “I am very happy to win this medal. The truth is that I looked for this first medal, but I feel that I could have done it in less time. We’re not used to run with a temperature as cold as the one in Lima, but Cubans can do anything,” said the champion very excited. The Cuban Para athlete will compete tomorrow in the 400 m competition with the illusion of winning her second gold medal.