The beating of drums with Peruvian chants resounded the Jockey Plaza shopping center. The Parapan American Torch has arrived and there was a symbolic route prepared to tour the Jockey Plaza, where it will remain until tomorrow, before starting its route.

The excitement of the Pan American Games remains. People who watched the celebration were thrilled with the rhythm of batucada that sought to encourage people for the symbolic route.

“I’m sure there will be more medals at the Parapan American Games. Para athletes are double heroes because they can overcome barriers that life put in them and even practice a sport,” said Carlos Neuhaus, president of the Lima 2019 Organizing Committee. 

“Parathletes are inspiring for us and we hope for children and young people too. Any effort can be made with perseverance; that’s what we want to transmit through this route,” said Juan José Calle, Jockey Plaza general manager.

This symbolic route was started by Security Manager and Iron Man, Enrique Lambruschini, who gave the post to Marco Ochante, operations supervisor, runner and trail runner.

“It’s fascinating to be part of this; I can’t describe it. These Games have a lot of value and merit because no impairment is an obstacle to get ahead and play sports,” Lambruschini said. “I never thought I’d carry the torch, but it is a great responsibility” Ochante stated.

The route finished with Jaime Cano, prevention agent, who reached the final point in a wheelchair. “Carrying the torch is a unique experience. The lesson it taught me is that effort gives results and that we must all support our Para athletes,” he stressed.

The Parapan American Torch starts its route this Wednesday from the Jockey Plaza at 09:20 along Av. Manuel Olguín to continue along Av. El Derby, Av. El Polo until the intersection with Av. Primavera and continue until the intersection with Av. San Luis in the district of Santiago de Surco.

The Parapan American Games Opening Ceremony will be held this Friday 23, at 19:00, at the National Stadium. “I invite you to buy your tickets to continue participating in our great Peruvian history and be part of an incredible closing. You also must go and see all the competitions because they will be incredible,” concluded Neuhaus.

The president of the highest governing body for the Paralympic movement worldwide, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), arrived a few days ago to Lima and participated in the Parapan American Torch Lighting Ceremony held at the Pachacámac Temple, officially opening the Games surrounded by a historical and sporting mysticism.

“We already feel the energy and eager to start competitions and see the athletes participate, but a ceremony like this, which is deemed to show the host country’s culture and history, is a delight, as it is part of the Games magic,” said the Brazilian sports authority.

The Parapan American Torch Relay will stir up the emotions of all Peruvians, who will witness the participation of the best Para athletes of the Americas; athletes who will shine under the Flame.

Parsons was also present at the Pan American Games Opening Ceremony, where he witnessed the elation generated by the great work and efforts made. He is confident that such will be the case for the last chapter of Lima 2019.

“We were surprised by the top-level events delivered by Lima. The Pan American Games were a success. I was at the Opening Ceremony and it was wonderful, so I’m confident that you have prepared something very special for the Parapan American Games Opening Ceremony.   It is very special to be finally here, after all the efforts invested by COPAL and Lima in these Games. We are here to enjoy the Games together.”

He also highlighted that IPC’s expectations for Lima 2019 include –apart from fantastic results inside the field, records broken and the unforgettable moments that Para athletes will experience– the qualification of many athletes to Tokyo 2020.

“This is something crucial to IPC and APC; that most athletes can consider these Games as a step in their path to qualifying for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.  Lima 2019 will include 13 qualifying sports, ensuring that all the countries of the Americas will bring their best athletes and a higher level of competition. This is also important for beginning athletes, as they will compete against the best,” he stated.  

Parsons was able to contrast the venues with his past visits and said that their current conditions are impressive.

“I still remember when the Village was in its earliest stage, but now it is fully completed with the corresponding services implemented. Being able to be with the athletes in the dining hall and ask them how they feel about the operations and seeing them very happy and dazzled by the quality of service offered is great... The venues are fantastic. We are all very happy,” he said.

He also highlighted that, thanks to the legacy left –specifically– by the Parapan American Games, many changes will occur and Peruvian Paralympic sports will take a great leap forward.

“Society, the government bodies and people with an impairment will get more involved in sports and Lima will be able to host more international events in the future, as the city already has top-level facilities. The venues are also located very close to or in the middle of low-income communities, which is crucial for the Games legacy. It is not necessary to practice a high-performance sport, but to make sports a part of your life, so you can get more involved in Peru’s society.”

In just a few hours, the Parapan American Flame will travel through Lima, carrying along the dreams of the 1890 Para athletes from 33 countries who will be taking part in the Parapan American Games. The Torch, lit at the Pachacámac fortress this morning, is already at the Village. There, a relay was held with representatives of the Peruvian delegation. 

Luz Santa Cruz, Erick Bonet, Jenny Vargas, Pablo Cueto, Noemí Vásquez, Lino Ibáñez, Jayme Regalado, Juan Lazarte and William Fernández proudly carried the Torch. The three-day journey will start in Surco tomorrow, eventually arriving at the Opening Ceremony, to be held at the National Stadium on August 23. The cauldron will then be lit, starting Lima 2019. 

“I’m proud of taking part in this great sports celebration and representing my country in my discipline. These are my first Games. Carrying the torch in this event inside the Village has made feel so excited. This is a special moment,” stated Luz Santa Cruz, member of the Peruvian sitting volleyball team. 

The event took place at the Flag Plaza of the Village’s International Zone, minutes before the official welcome to the Argentina, Costa Rica and Mexico delegations. Those in attendance did not miss the chance to have photos taken with the Parapan American Torch during this incredibly emotional event.  

BUY YOUR TICKETS 

Tickets are already available for competitions (starting at PEN 10), and for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. There will be a 50% discount for children under 18, senior citizens and people with an impairment. Tickets can only be purchased at the 11 authorized points of sale. 

They can also be bought online, on the lima2019.pe/ticketswebsite, where the competition schedules are detailed. In the case of e-tickets, printing will no longer be necessary since customers can show their e-tickets from their mobile phones at the entrance of the sports venue. 

Photo Gallery (click here) 

It will start its journey tomorrow on Wednesday 21 and will spread hope and illusion to host the Parapan American Games for the first time ever. The Parapan American torch is a symbol that reflects the spirit of the most important sports event in the continent. The tour will begin at 9:20 in Surco with the participation of the Lima 2019 Ambassadors, Pan American medalists and prominent athletes, who will have the privilege of carrying the torch along the main streets.

The Parapan American flame will seek to inspire equality, inspiration, courage and determination, which are the values embodied by each of the Para athletes. The torch will visit four of the most sacred archaeological sites of Lima, including Pachacámac where the journey started, as well as its most symbolic touristic destinations. These places are part of a legacy left by the pre-Hispanic, colonial and contemporary periods.

The Lima 2019 Ambassadors Dunia Felices and María Jesús Trujillo, the Lima 2019 gold medalist and Ambassador Piccolo Clemente, the Lima 2019 Honorary Ambassador Nicolás Fuchs, and the Peruvian Para badminton team member Jesús Salvá will participate in the first day of the relay.

The torch will be handed over to Pan American medalists Oliver del Castillo (gold), Ingrid Aranda (bronze) and Mariano Wong (bronze) in karate; María Fernanda Reyes (silver), Vania Torres (silver), Tamil Martino (silver) and Itzel Delgado (bronze) in surfing; Luis Bardalez (bronze) in weightlifting; María Belén Bazo (bronze) in sailing; and Renzo Saux (bronze) in taekwondo. Prominent athletes such as Percy Rojas and civil society representatives will also have the privilege to carry the torch.

TORCH RELAY

Day 1 - Wednesday 21:

The first day of the Parapan American torch route starts at 09:20 at Av. Manuel Olguín and travels along Av. El Derby and Av. El Polo up to the intersection of Av. Primavera and continue up to the intersection of Av. San Luis in the district of Santiago de Surco.

Then, it will cover the district of San Borja along Av. Angamos and cross important roads such as Av. Aviación, Av. Gálvez Barrenechea, Vía Expresa, Av. Petit Thouars, Av. Arequipa, Av. Comandante Espinar and arrive at Av. Santa Cruz in the district of Miraflores.

It will travel along Av. Santa Cruz to calle 7 de Junio past noon and continue on Malecón Cisneros and Malecón de la Reserva and ending at Av. Armendáriz. Then, the torch will arrive in the district of Barranco along Av. Miguel Grau and will turn left on calle Nicolás de Piérola to continue on Av. República de Panamá, Av. Ramón Castilla and Av. Paseo de la Castellana.

Later, it will head to Óvalo Higuereta to continue on Av. Tomás Marsano, calle Domingo Orué, Av. Paseo de la República, calle Domingo Elías, Av. Arequipa and ending at Parque Kennedy, where a celebration will be conducted.

The Parapan American Torch, a symbol representing the spirit of the greatest Para sports celebration of the Americas, was lit at noon at the Temple of Pachacámac, in a traditional ceremony where reconnected with its ancient past.

This activity was a prelude to the Flame relay that will be starting tomorrow on Wednesday, August 21, visiting the most emblematic landmarks of the capital city. Likewise, it was also the official start of the Parapan American Games, whose opening ceremony is scheduled for this Friday 23 at 19:00 at the National Stadium.

The President of the International Paralympic Committee, Andrew Parsons:, who is here specially to attend the Games; the President of the Americas Paralympic Committee, Julie Dussliere; the President of the Lima 2019 Organizing Committee, Carlos Neuhaus; the Mayor of Lima, Jorge Muñoz; the President of the National Paralympic Association of Peru Lucha Villar, district mayors; authorities from Paralympic Committees, as well as the representative of the National Committee for the Integration of People with Impairments (CONADIS), Darío Portillo and the Director of Pachacámac Museum, Denise Pozzi Escot, attended the ceremony.

Carlos Neuhaus pointed out the fulfillment of this milestone to continue the celebration started with the Pan American Games, considered the most successful ones in history. “We are proud to light up this Flame, as we did in Teotihuacán, in Mexico, with the Pan American Torch that arrived in Machu Picchu. This time, we are here in Pachacámac, a place with more than 1500 years of history. What a better choice than doing it here, a ceremonial and religious center. This Torch will go across Lima and will visit emblematic places, such as the huacas. This is a showcase of our culture. That’s why we also want the delegations to live the experience of a lifetime”, said Neuhaus.

In turn, the head of the APC said that “Lima 2019 will be the most modern, diverse and inclusive Games, showing accessibility and with the participation of the best Para athletes of the Americas. The light that is about to be lit will shine in huacas and streets, thanks to 300 people who will represent the values of sports. These Games will be the force uniting all cultures in Peru. I want to thank COPAL for making Lima an accessible city. The legacy of Lima 2019 legacy will start with the lighting of the Torch, which will illuminate the country and the Americas for many years.”

Later, the ceremony with the traditional “tribute to the earth” was held guided by a “ceremonial master”, along with a woman who helped him with the task of handing in offerings to the “gods”. It was a ceremony with traditional music and dances, where the temple witnessed a staging of the three levels of Inca cosmovision: Uku Pacha, Kay Pacha and Hanan Pacha.

ANCIENT CEREMONY

Immediately, four ‘celebrities’, the Lima 2019 flag bearer Angélica Espinoza, Peruvian Para taekwondo athlete; the Lima 2019 ambassador Dunia Felices, Para swimming athlete; as well as Iván Reyes and Delicia Paredes, related to the Parapan American sports, represented the four Suyos of the Incan Empire, presenting offerings to the “master”: Kintus of chicha de jora, flowers, corn and coca leaves.

Carlos Neuhaus was in charge of lighting the flame. He received the fire from the “ceremonial master”. The Torch relay started when Para athlete Carlos Felipa, Lima 2019 shot put athlete, had the honor of being the first torchbearer and received the Flame. The relay will start on the Qapaq Ñan route, go across the main streets of Lima, and finish at the National Stadium.

With this ceremony, Lima 2019 aimed to create a festive atmosphere where participants could connect with more than two thousand years of traditions, liturgies and artistic expressions that have defined the Peruvian culture until today. This way, Lima is preparing the right environment to receive the most outstanding Para athletes from the Americas, with the finest of our heritage.

Note: You can follow the torch relay and see photos and videos at lima2019.pe/antorcha.

Photo Gallery (click here)

As it was announced in the closing ceremony of Toronto 2015—the last edition of the Games—the three Para sports will make their debut in the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games. Our multi-sports event, the most important in the continent, was elected to host for the first time the shooting Para sport, Para taekwondo and Para badminton competitions.

In addition, after their debut in the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games, Para taekwondo and Para badminton will start their road to Tokyo 2020, where they will be official Paralympic sports for the first time. By contrast, shooting Para sport has been part of the Paralympic program since the Toronto 1976 Paralympic Games.

Competitions at Lima 2019:

In shooting Para sport there will be pistol (athletes with an impairment in lower limbs) and rifle (athletes with an impairment in upper and lower limbs using a stand to shoot) events, and it will take place in the brand-new Las Palmas Air Base Shooting Range.

More than 40 Para athletes—who come from eleven countries of the region—will compete on August 24, 25, 26 and 27 starting at 09:00. The American athlete McKenna Dahl, who won the bronze medal in Rio 2016 in rifle will be present among them. 

Para taekwondo will also have two disciplines: combat or kyorugi (athletes with an impairment in upper limbs) and poomsae (athletes with intellectual or visual impairment), and it will be hosted in the Callao Sports Center. The competitions will gather a total of 47 Para athletes from 16 countries on Friday, August 30 (at 09:00 and 15:00) and on Saturday, August 31 (at 09:00 and 15:00).

On the other hand, Para badminton will include three events (athletes with physical impairment with or without prosthesis and wheelchair) and it will be hosted at the VIDENA Sports Center 3. A total of 50 Para athletes from 11 countries will compete on August 29 and 30. The finals will be held on August 31 at 09:00 and 15:00 and on September 1—the last day of the Games—at 08:00.

Peru is present 

The Peruvian delegation for this Parapan American Games will be the largest ever. It will consist of 139 Para athletes, including those participating in the Para sports that will make their debut in the Lima 2019 program.

The shooting Para sport team is made up of Jorge Arcela, Steve Medina, and Milagros Palomino. The Peruvian representatives in Para taekwondo are Angélica Espinoza, the delegation’s flag bearer; William Fernández; José Navarro; and Shiroy Rentería.

The Peruvian Para badminton team includes stars such as Pilar Jáuregui, Pedro Pablo de Vinatea, Alberto Cadenillas, Pablo Cueto, Roberth Fajardo, Esteban Juárez, Ronald Miranda, Laura Puntriano, Jesús Salvador, and Jenny Ventocilla. They make up one of the largest teams in the Peruvian delegation.

It is worth mentioning that Peru has obtained better results at the Paralympic Games (8 medals) than at the Olympic Games (4 medals). Therefore, it is quite possible that this Parapan American Games, held in Peru, will serve as a springboard for Tokyo 2020 for many Para athletes.

Her name sounds like success and for Lima 2019 it is an honor to welcome Amalia Pérez. The five-time Paralympic medalist in Para powerlifting, who has achieved world records in different categories (44, 48 and 60 kg), is here to participate in her fifth Parapan American Games.  

“I am very happy and excited after seeing the Pan American Games, the truth is that athletes stood out, and now I feel motivated to represent Mexico in the best way, we feel welcomed and at home,” Amalia pointed out, after arriving in our country.  

The gold medalist in Rio 2007, Guadalajara 2011 and Toronto 2015, will seek in Lima 2019 her fourth medal and a qualifier for Tokyo 2020, which will be her last participation since Sidney 2000.  

“I am committed, absolutely proud and my heart is ready to represent my country, and more importantly, willing to show every Peruvian the effort, perseverance and abilities on this sport,” the Para athlete affirmed.  

Para powerlifting is a sport that requires a lot of time for training, but just a short time for competition. The event consists of 2 minutes and three attempts, and Amalia wants to demonstrate she is still present and planning on getting a medal.  

“This motivates me and I do it with pride because it is a great opportunity for women to represent Paralympic sports,” the Para athlete added. 

The complete Mexican delegation is now in Lima. “We are here to have a good time, but we want to give our best to win the most medals,” concluded Amalia.  

Para powerlifting will be held in Sports Center 2 at the National Sports Village (VIDENA) from August 29 to 31, and if you want to enjoy the performance of this world and Olympic champion, you can get your tickets at the official web page lima2019.pe/tickets and the authorized points of sale. 

When you play football with the heart, there is no visual impairment that can stop your feet from kicking the ball. That overwhelming passion for the most popular sport is what allows us to see five men fighting for a ball that has bells inside while wearing eyeshades in an adapted field of 40 x 20 meters. This marvelous performance will be seen at Lima 2019, starting this Saturday, August 24, in the hockey field of the Villa María del Triunfo Sports Center. 

Peru will be represented by an enthusiastic group that has been working for the past two years, led by their coach Felipe Ramírez. The ten selected Para athletes want to prove that they are playing at home, showing how Peruvian football is played. In fact, the last few months, they trained with the teams of Alianza Lima, Universitario and Cristal, which impressed the professional players. 

“These experiences have helped us a lot, but mostly they helped us to show the conventional football players that we share the same passion for this sport. Professional players such as Jorge Cazulo, Carlos Lobatón, Pablo Lavandeira, Wilder Cartagena, and Joa Arroé were amazed with the experience of playing blindfolded and encouraged us to do our best at the Games,” stated Juan Pablo Torres, member of the ‘Blanquirroja’. 

Peru will face off the six best teams of the continent, of which Brazil and Argentina are among the most awarded in the world. The journey begins this Saturday (20:00) against Mexico in Villa María del Triunfo. The Aztecs placed third in the Copa América of Football 5-a-side and have 15 years training with the same coaching staff. They are, without a doubt, a strong opponent. 

The matches between Argentina and Costa Rica, and Colombia against Brazil—the three-time Parapan American champion—will be held on the same day at 17:00 and 17:30, respectively. If you want to witness this great Para athletes, buy your tickets at lima2019.pe/tickets and in any of the 11 authorized centers across the city. 

ABOUT LIMA 2019 

The Parapan American Games will gather 1890 Para athletes from 33 countries, participating in 17 sports and 18 disciplines. Competitions will take place from August 23 to September 1, 2019. Additionally, 13 Para sports will be qualifiers for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. 

Peru will be represented by 139 Para athletes, the biggest amount for this type of continental competitions. In addition, we will participate in 16 disciplines, with sitting volleyball and wheelchair basketball being the ones with the highest number of competitors, with 24 each (12 for the women’s team and the same amount for the men’s team). 

Tiredness was no excuse. The Mexican delegation had a great time upon their arrival at Jorge Chávez International Airport. The delegation of over 70 persons arrived at 23:00 and was welcomed with a big surprise: an artistic performance in charge of Lima Airport Partners, which included typical dances from Peru’s coast, highlands and jungle. Dancers wearing typical costumes performed various Peruvian dances, such as Marinera Norteña, Huaylas and La Anaconda. 

“We want to welcome you to the best Parapan American Games in history. All Peruvians are working for you to enjoy these Games. The only thing you have to worry about is representing your teams in the best way possible. The rest is on us,” said Amalia Moreno, Lima 2019 secretary general, who welcomed the Para athletes and declared that these Games will serve us “to reflect on inclusion and accessibility.” 

Sergio Durand, secretary of the Mexican Paralympic Committee, spoke on behalf of the delegation. “We want to thank you for this wonderful welcome; we really appreciate this gesture. We Mexicans feel very happy and at home here. I always see smiles, kind and hard-working people, always there to help us,” said the officer with an “Arriba Perú” (Let’s go Peru) shout.  

Para athletes recorded videos and took selfies during the dance performance, also shouting “Mexico, Mexico!” Among the main athletes of this delegation we have Para powerlifters Patricia Bárcenas and Amalia Pérez, five-time Paralympic medalist. 

Amalia Pérez said that they are “really thankful for this reception, also because there is a commitment to adapted sports inclusion, and this performance is an opportunity to learn more about Peru’s culture.”  

The Parapan American Games will start on August 23 and will end on September 1. Get your tickets at the official website lima2019.pe/tickets and at the authorized points of sale. 

The Pan American Games left us a great lesson. There is no age limit nor specific reason to practice sports. Some may say their stories are entirely different, but they actually share the same passion: sport. 

While Claudia was claiming her seventh consecutive title in frontón, .Alexia had already started flutter kicking in the water. 

At age 51, Claudia Suárez won the gold in Peruvian frontón at the last Pan American Games and has never been defeated after claiming the national crown 20 years ago. 

Alexia Sotomayor also broke the mold. At just 13 years old, she became the youngest Peruvian athlete to participate in a Pan American Games and impressed the world by breaking her own records. She almost qualified for Tokyo 2020 in the 500 m freestyle final.  

Both met each other for the first time this weekend during the Festival “Learn Through Play”, which aimed to promote de Parapan American Games that will be held from August 23 to September 1.  

“I practiced swimming for many years, but when my shoulders started to broaden I didn’t like it that much, so I got into racket sports,” told us Claudia when asked if she had ever tried professional swimming? 

For Alexia, the Pan American Games experience was unforgettable and also a big step in her career that has just started. “We competed against Olympic medalists and world record holders. I had the chance of going up against them, and that motivates me. It felt so good. When you’re competing, you focus on yourself to try to improve and pursue your goals,” mentioned Alexia. 

Claudia’s First Steps 

Claudia gave her first steps in sports in squash.  “I started competing at the age of 15 in a squash South American championship held in Paraguay. When I was 13, I wasn't even thinking about competing; I didn’t even know what sport I wanted to play at all. When I see Alexia, I see a great role model for kids. My son is 15, and I’m dying to see what sport he’ll choose. It’s complicated because you can’t force kids. You have to let them be themselves and choose what sport they like the most. They must decide on their own. I also had to make that decision at some point,” indicated the Pan American medalist.   

So after hearing all her experience, we asked Claudia to give Alexia a piece of advice. “You must be very disciplined and train hard to be an elite athlete. I used to go to parties too, but there must be some limits. I didn’t understand it at her age either, but my parents helped me out.” 

Currently, Claudia works a Peruvian frontón teacher. “I’ve been teaching kids for 17 years now because I want to promote sports practice. That’s why it’s so important to raise awareness. The sports career is incredible, and it gives you many satisfactions,” added the Pan American medalist with her usual serenity. 

Then, we asked Alexia: “What kind of teacher do you think Claudia is?” I think she helps everyone who wants to improve. She’s not a serious teacher, but she does like discipline,” said the young athlete.   

Claudia immediately added: “I’m very motherly with children. Everyone sees me as their mom, and that helps me teach them better.” 

Life at 13 

Alexia is still on vacations and is about to start her first high-school year. She was six months old when she first touched the water. Her mother, who also practiced swimming, took a course for mothers and babies. At age 5, she started swimming in a sports club. 

Being an elite athlete takes a lot of effort, and Alexia had to wait until the end to confirm her participation in Lima 2019.  “First, they had to validate my mark because of my age, but at the end they let me participate, and I was proud to represent Peru.” 

“I get a lot of support from my school. They help me catch up and make up my exams. Sport changes your lifestyle; for example, my friends go to parties, but I have to give up some of those activities due to my training. If I want to be the best, I have to train every day,” mentioned Alexia sure of herself. 

Her priorities are straight: “Going to the Pan American Games in Chile and the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. I see myself on the podium,” concluded Alexia.   

Claudia listens closely and tells her that “the feeling of winning a medal is incredible. It makes all the effort worth it.” 

The Most Expected Event: Lima 2019  

“Lima 2019 was a memorable event, and I hope all my students get to compete in a large tournament like this one,” said Claudia in regard to her future students. 

“Representing my country made me proud. It was amazing to see all the stands packed and receiving the support of all Peruvians,” added Alexia when remembering her participation in Lima 2019 last August 8.   

Social Media 

“My followers increased after the Games. Before the event, I had 1700, but now there are almost 8000,” she said. 

“I’ve created my accounts, but someone else manages them for me. It’s taken me a while to get used to these technologies. 

Her Sport 

“This sport is my life. It’s our flagship sport, and it has achieved a milestone I thought we'd never reach thanks to the internationalization. It’s cost us a great deal, and now we have to work hard so that frontón can keep growing,” stressed Claudia when asked about her sport and how it was included as a Basque pelota discipline at Lima 2019. 

“It’s my passion, and it’s always been a part of my life,” said Alexia. 

After their meeting, they took some time to practice and promote Para sports and to show the passion that runs through their veins. They’re an example for all generations in our country.