It is worth emphasizing this, because, tonight, the cheering of the Peruvian fans was heard from beginning to end in the women’s sitting volleyball competition between Peru and United States. 

Although the Peruvian team lost against the powerful team from USA, Peruvian fans cheered with their classic: Peru, Peru, Peru! 

Women, men and children cheered at each serve or spike performed by the members of the female national team. 

If the Peruvian fans had already shown us their constant support in every match during the Pan American Games, the Parapan American Games were no exception, as the Callao Sports Center vibrated with excitement tonight. 

The Sports Center 3 of Callao dressed up for the celebration of the first medal ceremony of the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games. Para table tennis was the sport that granted the first medals to the delegations that, in this way, leave a mark and will be remembered forever for their passage in the Peruvian capital.

In this act, the President of the National Paralympic Association of Peru, Luisa Villar; and the IPC Head of Protocol, Hospitality and Events, Stephanie Keller, presented the first gold medal of Lima 2019 to the Chilean Para athlete, Tamara Leonelli.

The Chilean Para athlete stated that she is proud of obtaining this first triumph for her country. “Lima 2019 has given me the opportunity to obtain this first medal for my country and the feeling is indescribable,” expressed Tamara with great effusiveness.

Another of the winners was Yunier Fernández, Cuban Para athlete. From his neck hung the medal that gave him an almost mythical aura. “I feel like the happiest man in the world right now, because this is an achievement I have been tirelessly seeking for the last three Parapan American Games,” he said, overflowing with joy.

Both distinguished Para athletes, who embody the Paralympic values, also took with them an emblematic souvenir of the Peruvian culture: a cuchimilco made of clay.

These figures of the pre-Hispanic culture of Chancay, which represent the symbolic official mascot of the Games, have marked an unprecedented gesture that has touched these Para athletes. “For Peru, this is a memory of its millenary past, and for me, it represents an unforgettable moment in my sports career,” expressed with gratitude the Cuban Para athlete.

Thus, Lima 2019 is not only becoming the epicenter of excellence in continental Para sports, but also the space where the cultures of the Americas converge, under the protection of the guiding Paralympic principles.

After having been defeated in the first event by Brazil, the Peruvian football 7-a-side team will look for revenge against Colombia this Sunday 25 from 09:30 at the Villa María del Triunfo Sports Center. 

It should be noted that Peru endured Brazil’s attacks, which defeated them 10-0. Peru and Costa Rica will also compete in football 5-a-side at 20:00 at the Villa María del Triunfo Sports Center. 

FINALS 

As part of the fourth day of competition of the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games, there will be another Para athletics session to compete for the gold in various disciplines. 

The discus throw (men and women), long jump (women), shot put (men and women), 400-meter (men), 200-meter and 1500-meter (women) finals, among others, will also be held at the National Sports Village - VIDENA in San Luis. 

There will also be another day of Para swimming events at the VIDENA Aquatic Center. From 09:56, athletes will compete for the gold in 100 m backstroke (men and women), 100 m and 400 m freestyle (men and women), 100 m breaststroke (men and women) and 100 m butterfly (men) events.  

MORE PERUVIANS COMPETING 

The Peruvian judoka Antero Villalobos will face off Eduardo Ávila (Mexico), Gerardo Rodríguez (Cuba), Harlley Pereyra (Brazil) and Nathan Ostergaard (US) from 09:00 at the Sports Center 2 in VIDENA. 

Meanwhile, Steve Medina, Jorge Arcela and Milagros Palomino from Peru will seek to qualify for the finals in shooting Para sport, in the 10 m air rifle prone event, from 10:00 at Las Palmas Air Base Shooting Range in Santiago de Surco. 

Peru will also participate in Para table tennis. Peruvian and Chilean men’s teams (class 3-5) will face off from 10:00 at the Sports Center 3 in VIDENA. Peruvian representatives will also compete against Guatemala and the US. 

Goalball events will be held at the Miguel Grau Coliseum in Callao from 12:30, where Peru will face off the US and Venezuela. Peru and Canada will also compete at the Callao Sports Center from 17:00 in sitting volleyball. In the same way, Peru and the US will compete in wheelchair basketball from 18:30.

Culturaymi, the cultural program of Lima 2019, reopened its doors this Saturday, August 24, at the Parque de la Exposición with a great artistic and cultural proposal for the Parapan American Games, including well-known musician and artists.

At the opening act was Ileana Rodríguez, Americas Paralympic Committee Athlete representative (APC), who praised the accessibility of Culturaymi as wheelchair users were able to easily move through the facilities thanks to ramps and other kinds of services.

Likewise, Juan Antonio Silva, director of Communication, Commercialization and Marketing of Lima 2019, stated that Culturaymi of the Parapan American Games wants to provide every family with an accessible space, so they can all share all the amenities together. Afterwards, the authorities went on to see the facilities at Parque de la Exposición.

The folklore-singer Dina Páucar and Dilbert Aguilar are the stars artists that will appear on Saturday 24 on the Fun Fest stage. On the same day, Daniel F, Larah Nuh, Outsiders and Barrio Calavera will play on the Milco stage.

Among the stars that will be featured in the artistic program in the upcoming days are: Danitse, Laguna Pai, Frágil, Pamela Rodríguez, Voz Propia, Cementerio Club, Chuquisengo & Madueño, Elyyella, Gaia y Mar de Copas, Damaris, Novalima, Son Tentación, Ray Callao, and La Sonora Patronal.

Batalla de Gallos will show its music this Sunday 25. The freestyle, rap and hip-hop leading exponents will make their entrance at 19:40 at Fun Fest. At 18:45, Morisco a Cosa Nuestra will take the stage, this Viña del Mar winning band, will delight us with their music and sound.

Apart from all that, children will get to learn to make masks of Milco, the official mascot of Lima 2019, and they will also get to make posters of Milco in comic. Both workshops will take place this Sunday 25 at the MALI and the Culturaymi auditorium.

In the same way, on August 30, Culturaymi will present the show “Cantos del Ande” with the National Children’s Chorus, along with the participation of the musical band of the Ballet Folklórico Nacional and, as special guests, Diosdado Gaitán and Hatun Killa.

Culturaymi will last until August 31, from 11:00 at the Parque de la Exposición, and it is free.

One of the most remembered love gestures while representing Peru in sports happened on February 29, 2000. The famous midfielder of the Peruvian football team, Roberto “Chorri” Palacios, showed a T-shirt with “I love Peru” written on it, after scoring a goal against Paraguay.

Nineteen years later, the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games allowed us again to watch a similar love gesture for Peru.  It happened on the men’s sitting volleyball match between Peru and Canada, where the Peruvian team lost 3 sets to 0.

The Peruvian sitting volleyball team fought the whole third set (25-16), and the result is anecdotal. The really important thing is that there was constant connection between the Peruvian team and fans on the stands.

This magic connection inspired the sitting volleyball teammate, Miguel Fernández, to run across the court after the game, carrying the Peruvian flag to thank the fans and to show his commitment with our country’s team.

The Sports Center 2 of the National Sports Village vibrated with excitement in the opening of the judo competitions for people with a visual impairment.

The sport venue was packed with fans that from rooted for their favorite teams from start to finish in this intense combat. This Para sport started at 09:00 and carried on until 14:00.

The cheers of the spectators of Lima on the foreign judokas were loud at all times. The effervescence, which would erupt from the stands, was at a par with the strength all Para athletes showed on the tatami, while putting on brave martial movements.

Some of the most exciting moments of the day took place during the semifinals by noon. In this context, Henry Borges gave a great performance. He defeated the Venezuelan Marco Blanco, by accumulated penalties, after immobilizing his opponents in the elimination rounds.

Therefore, the Uruguayan claimed the gold medal in the men’s 60 kg category, taking the first medal for Uruguay.

With that same courage, the Cuban Yordani Fernández fought against the Brazilian Antonio Tenorio and moved to the finals. Then, he took the gold home in a titanic final against the American Benjamin Goodrich, claiming the crown in the B3 category.

The last award of the day in this tough discipline was disputed by the Puerto Rican Luis Pérez and the Argentine Eduardo Gauto in the 66 kg B1 category. The Argentine was the absolute winner of the combat as he scored an ippon that finished off his opponent.

This way, the first session of judo for people with a visual impairment ended on a high note, filled with splendid martial performances. All participating Para athletes are giving it their all hoping to reach a spot on the Parapan American Games podium.

Photo Gallery (click here)

The enthusiasm of the children is one of the most incredible images that can be lived in Lima 2019. As part of the second stage of the “Soy Lima” campaign, the Parapan American Games Organizing Committee delivered the first tickets to schoolchildren across the city, so they can go to the venues and watch the competitions of the most important multi-sports event in the Americas.

Also, watching the best Para athletes of the Americas in action inspires the schoolchildren to apply the values that sports conveys to them; especially, that they can achieve their goals if they incorporate discipline, courage and determination into their own lives.

Thus, a total of 180 students belonging to El Nazareno school, from San Juan de Miraflores, and Jorge Bernal school, from Villa María del Triunfo, enjoyed the football 7-a-side opening match between Peru and Brazil. Children and adolescents constantly cheered from the stands with every action of the match.

“It is a great experience for our students, as they were impressed by this beautiful precinct and also by watching an event as important as Lima 2019. This works as an incentive for them because it shows that they can practice any sport while continuing their studies, and makes it clear that everything is possible with dedication,” said the principal of El Nazareno school, Willy Sánchez.

In addition, the students interacted with the Para athletes, who applauded the spectators as a way of thanking them for their encouragement. “I really like football and it is beautiful to see people with these skills, who don't give up. I would love to play like them and be like my idol, ‘Oreja’ Flores,” said Raí León, one of the schoolchildren.

“SOY LIMA” CAMPAIGN

A total of 35,140 tickets will be delivered to 57 schools (from which 22,121 will be for competitions to be held during daytime, and 13,019 during the evening). Likewise, it has been taken into consideration that students must be accompanied by teachers, parents and/or staff of the Regional Directorate of Education of Lima (DRELM) and the Regional Directorate of Callao (DREC).

It is expected that this initiative becomes a meaningful experience, one that makes Paralympic values, such as courage and determination, the life motivation for thousands of young Peruvians. In addition to remembering that, although to road to success may be very long, it is possible to achieve the goal with dedication.

Photo Gallery (click here)

The new VIDENA Athletics Stadium, built for the Lima 2019 Games, saw the first world record broken in an international competition, as an omen of success of the sports event organization.

Brazilian Thiago Paulino broke the world record in the Para athletics’ shot put event, F57 category.

At the start of the Para athletics competition, Paulino broke his own world record by throwing a shot put at a distance of 15m26c. 33-year-old Paulino competed in a category where Para athletes are required to be seated during the throw.

The Para athlete beat his own record at the VIDENA Athletics Stadium, which he had achieved recently on August 10, when he threw a shot put at a distance of 15m11c. He had already surpassed the 14m92cm record achieved by Polish Janusz Rokicki at the 2015 Doha World Cup.  With this mark, Paulino achieved, by far, the gold medal in the competition.

The Peruvian players dominated the wheelchair tennis session today.. Apart from Ysabelino Apaza and Jesús Mayhua’s victories in men’s singles, Peru snatched another medal thanks to María Castillo. The wheelchair tennis player won the first round of the competition, after beating the Chilean Sofía Fuentes by far.

Cheered by a great number of fans at the central stadium of the Club Lawn Tennis, the Para athlete from Cajamarca came back from 4-1 down in the first half and ended up winning the last two sets. Castillo will try to move to the semifinals tomorrow against the USA’s Dana Mathewson, the third favorite to win in the tournament.

“It was exciting because I managed to come back with the support of the fans. Also, the pride of playing home helped me not to give up that easily and I was able to show off all my experience on the court (19 years). My goal was to advance to the next round and to keep improving, especially because we're facing off the best Para athletes in the world,” said María Castillo.

Back to the competitions, Apaza will go up against Alexander Cataldo in the second round, while Mayhua will compete against the Costa Rican José Pablo Gil. Tomorrow, the second competition day will also make the Lawn Tennis vibrate with excitement.

CHEER THEM ON FROM THE STANDS

If you want to see these amazing Para tennis players in action, you can get your tickets starting at PEN 10.00. Additionally, there will be a 50% discount for children under 18, senior citizens and people with an impairment. Tickets can only be purchased at the Box Offices in the main entrance of the Lawn Tennis(Avenida 28 de Julio) and at any of the 11 authorized ticket centers across the city of Lima.

You can also get them online through the websitelima2019.pe/tickets, where you will also find the detailed competition schedule. As for the 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.

Photo Gallery (click here)

The Peruvian delegation obtained its first medal at the Parapan American Games during the first Para athletics competitions held at the Athletics Stadium in VIDENA.  

The Lima 2019 ambassador Luis Sandoval reached the silver medal when he finished second in the 5000 m T11 category (athletes with visual impairment), with a time of 15:54.81.  

Ecuadorian Darwin Castro landed the gold with a time of 15:52.93. Peruvian Rosbil Guillén won the event, but he was disqualified because he did not comply with the competition rule 7.9, which says: “The pair must keep the tether attachment from the start to the end of the race” and the judges noticed that this rule was not followed.