Gustavo Fernández represents perseverance in sport, not only for those who saw him grow up in the Argentinian city of Río Tercero, province of Córdoba, but also for those who applaud his skills as a wheelchair tennis player. 

In 2017, in Córdoba, he obtained the highest award in an integrated awards ceremony with athletes without an impairment and was applauded by David Nalbandián, a great tennis player native of this area.  Fernández will shine with his own light at the Lawn Tennis de la Exposición Club starting on August 24. To watch the best Para athletes, buy your tickets at lima2019.pe/tickets or at the authorized points of sale. 

“What we see in this discipline means progress in society to value athletes as they are. It is a loving caress for the soul. I don’t even realize how many hours I train every day, but you don’t have to complain about the effort if you love what you do. Don't ever avoid sacrifice,” said Fernandez, at the medal ceremony. 

He will come to Lima 2019 to defend his title of two-time Parapan American champion. He won two gold medals in men’s singles and doubles at Toronto 2015, added to his gold medal in singles at Guadalajara 2011. The current number one of the ITF ranking (International Tennis Federation) has won 23 medals. 

If that were not enough, Fernández has won the last three Grand Slams (ITF great events): the Australian Open, Roland-Garros and Wimbledon. He added these big titles to the ones he won in 2016 (Roland-Garros) and 2017 (Australian Open).  

There are still major challenges for 25-year-old Fernández, such as the gold medal in the Tokyo 2020 Games. In Lima, he will give his best and seek his qualification to the next year’s Paralympic Games. If he managed to overcome the spinal cord stroke that left him unable to move his legs, when he was only a year and a half old, then he must able to reach the top of the sports world. He is a champion in life. 

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. 

Wheelchair tennis events will take place from August 24 to 30, at Lawn Tennis de la Exposición Club courts. The competitions will be held in men’s and women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles, and quad singles and doubles, a category adapted for wheelchair tennis athletes with quadriplegia.

The team consists of 257 Para athletes, with a total of 36 Paralympic champions, who will compete in Peru starting on August 23.

 With the goal of winning as many medals as possible, the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee announced the team that will compete at the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games, which will take place from August 23 to September 1 in Peru.

The US delegation consists of 159 men and 98 women, including six guides. The US will participate in 16 sports, with the exception of football 5-a-side. There are 257 athletes on the list; 114 of them have experience competing in Paralympic Games.

The US will arrive at Lima 2019 with 67 Paralympic medalists; 36 of them are Paralympic champions, demonstrating the power of team USA. The women’s and men’s wheelchair basketball team and women’s sitting volleyball will arrive in Lima as the current Paralympic champions.

Other notable athletes of the US delegation are four-time Paralympic cycling medalist Joe Berenyi, three-time Paralympic champion Jeremy Campbell and two-time Paralympic champion Deja Young.

Other Paralympic champions that will be in Lima are: Brian Bell, Aaron Gouge, Trevon Jenifer, Michael Paye, Matt Scott, Steven Serio, Joshua Turek y Jake Williams, from the men’s wheelchair basketball team, and Megan Blunk, Abigail Dunkin, Rose Hollermann, Darlene Hunter, Becca Murray and Natalie Schneider, from the women’s wheelchair basketball team.

Lisa Czechowski (goalball) and Jennifer Johnson, Tahl Leibovitz and Terese Terranova (table tennis) will also be in Lima. Para athletes David Brown, Jeremy Campbell, Breanna Clark, Gianfranco Iannotta, Jerome Singleton, Deja Young and Jerome Avery will also compete at Lima 2019.

And, finally, the women’s sitting volleyball team will also be present: Monique Burkland, Tia Edwards, Heather Erickson, Katie Holloway, Kaleo Kanahele, Nichole Millage, Nicole Nieves, Alexis Shifflett, Lora Webster and Bethany Zummo.

INTERESTING FACTS

Team USA is bringing 31 Spanish-speaking Para athletes. Their youngest Para athlete is Para swimmer Keegan Knott (14), while the oldest athlete is Para table tennis player Terese Terranova (72).

A married couple will compete in Para athletics for team USA: Kym Crosby and Erik Hightower. A total of 23 Para athletes coming to Peru have times to the military: 16 with the army, three with the Air Force, two with the Marine Corps and two with the US Navy. The men’s sitting volleyball team has the most military veterans, with six Para athletes on the team. 

• With information from the US Paralympic Committee

LIMA 2019 TICKET SALES

If you would like to go to the competitions and the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, tickets are already on sale and they start at PEN 10. There will be a 50% discount for children under 18, senior citizens and people with an impairment.

At VIDENA and Villa Maria del Triunfo, there will be a “Day Pass” ticket that can be used to watch all the Para sports taking place in the venue for one price.

Tickets can only be bought at the 11 Lima 2019-authorized points of sale around the city. Learn where they are located:

Tickets can also be purchased online at www.lima2019.pe/tickets, where you will also find the Sports Calendar with the detailed competition schedules. E-tickets will no longer need to be printed out; clients will be able to show their e-ticket on their mobile phones at the entrance of the sports venue.

Master Class Schools in the Lima Metropolitan Area will include a training on the values of the Lima 2019 Pan American Games in their class schedules, so that their students can learn more about the benefits of sport and about the new disciplines recently discovered.by our country.

The learning methodology will be developed in 20 sessions during the math and science classes, which will take from 45 to 90 minutes. The goal is for students to increase their knowledge on different subjects of the Pan American Games to discover their skills and have a healthy life through sports.

Bernardina Rojas Santillán, teacher at I.E. 2054 Sangarará, pointed out that the end of the Pan American Games program and the beginning of the Parapan American Games program have been scheduled for this month though the learning unit. For this reason, different subjects will be developed throughout some sessions, including the Chancay Culture that inspired the Lima 2019 official mascot, Milco, and different cultural events in our regions.

In addition, she informed they will include information on the number of participating countries and medals, to obtain statistics and use them in their math classes.

In the sports activities, they will try to recreate the events in which Peruvian athletes have participated and students will learn a little more about these sports through competitions, highlighting values as respect, excellence, friendship and equality.

The President of the Republic, Martín Vizcarra Cornejo, and the Minister of Education, Flor Pablo Medina, along with Milco, the Lima 2019 official mascot, participated in this activity that will start in this school, Institución Educativa No. 2043 Sangarará, located in Comas.

The Head of State pointed out that winning 39 medals shows that we can grow and that we must establish our goals and work hard to achieve them. “This is why it’s so important to practice sports from a young age. I’d like to ask all parents to help us and support their children’s sport training, in order to contribute to the country’s growth,” he stressed.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Education, Flor Pablo Medina, also took part in the master class today and pointed out the importance of providing this education to children, as it helps shape our future citizens.

It is worth mentioning Lima 2019 had already visited 31 schools, as part of its campaign “Soy Lima 2019”. This campaign promoted cultural initiatives to change lifestyles and to encourage the practice of sports based on the Olympic and Paralympic values of the Lima 2019 Pan American Games and Parapan American Games.

Photo Gallery (click here)

The Peruvian Para badminton player, Pilar Jáuregui, is training hard to compete and do well at the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games. Pilar launched a challenge to raise awareness and make the public understand how difficult it is to move around Lima in a wheelchair.

Peru’s future sports star of the Parapan American Games launched the #PutYourselfInMyWheelchair challenge and invited the mayor of Lima, Jorge Muñoz, to experience it. The mayor accepted the Para badminton player’s challenge, who asked him to put himself in her shoes and in that of many Peruvians who face a number of difficulties when moving around the city every day.

CHALLENGE COMPLETED

Mayor Jorge Muñoz stated that completing this challenge was a very important experience that helps a person be more aware. In this sense, he asked district mayors and entrepreneurs to join in, in order to make Lima a friendlier, more sustainable and inclusive city for people with an impairment.

“Challenges need to be met; my word is very important to me. It is an honor to be with Pilar Jáuregui, who is a notable athlete. When she challenged me, I accepted it to raise awareness among Peruvians and commit to a more inclusive city,” he said.

The Lima 2019 ambassador was very grateful for the mayor’s commitment and called for greater accessibility in the streets, so that Lima can be more inclusive and caring city.

She reminded everyone that wheelchair users have to navigate many obstacles, because Lima, unfortunately, is not prepared. “The idea is not to rely on someone but to be able to move around the streets on our own, independently, which can be achieved with more ramps and accesses,” she said.

PARAPAN AMERICAN GAMES

Pilar Jáuregui, candidate for a medal in the next Parapan American Games, stated that she is ready to compete and give it her all on the court in order to reach the podium.

She pointed out that she is focused on not having any injuries and training very hard because, for her, it will be an honor to represent Peru in these Games and feel the cheers of the fans in her own country.

She also took the opportunity to invite the public to get to know this sport and to learn about the reality of people with an impairment.

Pilar Jaúregui Cancino will represent Peru in the upcoming Lima 2019 Parapan American Games. She is one of the candidates for a medal in Para badminton, since in 2018 she was fourth in the world ranking. Additionally, she won gold medals at the Pan American and South American Championships.

Athletes from 33 countries in the Americas will compete in 17 sports at the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games.

Photo Gallery (click here)

The first group of 23 Cuban athletes arrived in Peru to compete at the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games, to take place from August 23 to September 1. 

The Cuban delegation was led by Paralympic swimming champion Lorenzo Pérez, gold medalist in 100m freestyle at Rio 2016 and world record in 100m freestyle, S6. 

Pérez was also a Parapan American champion at Guadalajara 2011 and Toronto 2015. He is part of a group of eight Cuban athletes who will compete in Para swimming, one of the sports that will feature Cuba. 

The rest of the group will compete in other sports: Para taekwondo (6), Para badminton (3), shooting Para sport (3), Para cycling (2) and wheelchair tennis (1).  

A total of 48 Cuban athletes will participate in these Games. The rest of the delegation will arrive to Lima in a second group led by Omara Durand, medalist in many Games. 

Durand will be the Cuban flagbearer during the Opening Ceremony, which will take place at the National Stadium on August 23. 

The second group will have athletes competing in judo (5), Para powerlifting (5) and Para table tennis (4). 

The Cuban athletes expect to have a good performance at the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games, an improvement on their participation in Toronto 2015.

The celebration goes on. The Lima 2019 Director of Communications, Commercial and Marketing, Juan Antonio Silva, emphasized that the largest multi-sport event will continue with the Parapan American Games, after confirming that tickets for the Pan American Games Closing Ceremony have been sold out.

“There are no longer any tickets for the Closing Ceremony. All tickets have been sold out. (...) Lima 2019 is not yet over,” he said.  He also pointed out that there are tickets available for some preliminary competitions and the women’s volleyball and basketball finals, as well as women’s and men’s hockey and judo events.

“Some competitions are qualifiers for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. We invite you to go to any of the 11 points of sale,” he said. It should be noted that tickets for these competitions or the Parapan American Games can be purchased at Jockey Plaza shopping center in Santiago de Surco.

Also, at Metro and Wong supermarkets in the districts of Chorrillos, Independencia, La Molina, Lima, Miraflores, San Borja, San Isidro, San Juan de Miraflores, San Miguel and Surco.

On the Lima 2019 website: www.lima2019.pe. Or on the Teleticket website: https://teleticket.com.pe/lima2019.

Afterwards, Silva Sologuren highlighted that the Pan American Games Opening Ceremony fulfilled the objective of showing foreigners the natural and cultural wealth of Peru, and the purpose of encouraging Peruvians to feel proud.

The National Paralympic Association of Peru announced that a total of 139 athletes will represent Peru at the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games, which will begin on August 23, becoming the largest delegation in its history.

The announcement was made by its President, Lucha Villar. “It’s an honor to announce that Peru will be represented by 139 young athletes. They successfully qualified and are the large group of Para athletes who will make us proud,” she said.

Peru will take part in 16 sports, including sitting volleyball and wheelchair basketball as the ones with the largest number of competitors: 24 each (12 in women’s team and 12 in men’s team)

Furthermore, there will be Para athletes participating in boccia (4), football 5-a-side (10), football 7-a-side (14), goalball (12), judo (1), Para athletics (14), Para badminton (10), Para cycling (2), Para swimming (4), Para powerlifting (4), Para taekwondo (4), Para table tennis (4), Shooting Para sport (3) and wheelchair tennis (5).

As confirmed by Lucha Villar, the Peruvian delegation will be led by José González-Mugaburu, bronze medalist at the Toronto 1976 Paralympic Games.

“We are very confident, not only in good results that Peruvians will achieve but also in what they will represent. They are the best ambassadors for Para sports,” he said.

LET’S ALL PLAY: BUY YOUR TICKETS

Tickets for Lima 2019 competitions can be purchased at the 11 points of sale set up at Jockey Plaza shopping center in Santiago de Surco and Metro and Wong supermarkets in the districts of Chorrillos, Independencia, La Molina, Lima, Miraflores, San Borja, San Isidro, San Juan de Miraflores, San Miguel and Surco.

Also, on the website www.lima2019.pe and on the Teleticket website: https://teleticket.com.pe/lima2019. The tickets for the Parapan American Games start at PEN 10 and there will be a 50% discount for children under 18, senior citizens and people with an impairment.

The “Cárceles Productivas” project held by the National Penitentiary Institute (INPE) are now present, with an innovative stand, in Culturaymi, the Lima 2019 cultural program that takes place at Parque de la Exposición.

INPE and the Lima 2019 Organizing Committee signed an agreement to provide free use of the trademark of the distinctive signs and the Milco mascot in the works carried out and sold by inmates of different penitentiaries in the country.

In the stand no. 39 of INPE, located at Parque de la Exposición, the sale of the official mascot Milco made from cold porcelain clay is a complete success. There are different designs: Milco holding the torch, playing football, surfing and playing volleyball.

If you want to take home this beautiful souvenir of the Lima 2019 Pan American Games and support the project “Cárceles Productivas”, you can buy them for only 15 soles.

Jessica Guzmán, INPE's collaborator, indicated that there is a high demand from the assistants, since more than 600 units have been sold so far. “Everybody is happy with their Milco, very satisfied with the work done in the penitentiaries and, especially, with the quality of the product,” she said.

The collaborator made a call for the public to come to the stand and buy these products, as the incomes will be for the inmates, for their livelihood and that of their families.

The Milco made from cold porcelain clay will also be available in the following venues: VIDENA, Villa María del Triunfo Sports Center, Chorrillos Military School, Miguel Grau Sports Center, Punta Rocas Beach and Army Equestrian School.

After the Peruvian victories that came in waves, one after the other, the Punta Rocas High-Performance Surfing Center (CAR)—where the competitions of the Pan American Games took place—will remain as a permanent legacy, becoming a worldwide center of attraction for surf.

In addition to the gold, silver and bronze medals obtained during yesterday's historic competitions, this center, whose areas have all been designed to face the sea, will remain as part of the Lima 2019 impressive infrastructure legacy. The center will include various training and recreation areas, and a permanent grandstand with fixed seats for 700 people. It is one of the few surfing centers that is in front of the ocean, right where the shoal that creates the waves that athletes try to dominate with their boards is located.

The judges' tower, used during the competitions, consists of three levels, which were used by the athletes, broadcast, judges, and the Games Family. However, this zone could be used in the future to give sustainability to the CAR, through its concession to restaurants, ice-cream parlors, coffee shops, etc.

This center was designed so that people from all the surrounding districts could enjoy a free access boardwalk, which unifies Punta Negra, Punta Hermosa and San Bartolo, and will end in a large public plaza. 

On the wall of this "boardwalk of fame", the footprints of our most outstanding athletes will be placed, because in addition to the Pan American medals, Peru has 11 world titles, which makes it a great power of surf. This boardwalk leads to the Plaza del Tablista, where food fairs, street theater, among other activities can be held on weekends.

 HIGH-PERFORMANCE CENTER

However, the area that will resume its construction on Wednesday (a large long-term project that was not part of the infrastructure needed for the Lima 2019 competitions) will include a state-of-the-art gym; a 5-meter-deep semi-Olympic pool, designed exclusively for apnea (underwater resistance); a skateboarding ramp, designed for surfers with cement waves to simulate surfing movements with the skate; and 36 rooms for lodging, where athletes from other provinces will be able to stay. 

In addition, this area includes a warehouse for boards and wet suits; a sand court for sports such as volleyball, football and beach rugby; as well as offices for the technical staff, administrative staff, and a medical center that can be used for sports medicine research.

The essential users of this CAR are the members of the Peruvian surfing team, but any citizen who wants to enjoy these areas will be able to access them. It should be mentioned that, as in any Lima 2019 venues, all the areas are accessible.

Photo Gallery (click here)

Culturaymi, the cultural program of the Pan American and Parapan American Games, has already received 112 655 people in the first four days since its opening at Parque de la Exposición. The Lima 2019 Communications, Commercial and Marketing Manager, Juan Antonio Silva, mentioned that this is the equivalent of three times the full capacity of the National Stadium. 

“We are really excited for the reaction of the public. In Culturaymi, you can appreciate all that you saw on the Pan American Games Opening Ceremony, which was created to spread the Peruvian cultural and creative richness,” he stated. 

In an interview with a local media, he reminded that entrance to the activities of the Culturaymi program is totally free and all the people who attend will be able to enjoy workshops, exhibitions, panel discussions, theaters, fashion shows, cajon performances, art workshops for social transformation, concerts, among other activities. 

Silva Sologuren invited all the population to assist to Culturaymi starting at 11:00 at Parque de la Exposición. He also mentioned that all the program can be found on the web page: www.lima2019.pe 

“In this program, we all play, the State, the private companies, the embassies and much more,” he added.  

The first stage of Culturaymi will be until August 10 and the second stage, during the Parapan American Games, will be held from August 24 to 31. 

On her part, the Peruvian singer Fabiola de la Cuba congratulated the Lima 2019 organization level, as the Games Opening Ceremony has created a different feeling on the streets. “The feeling on the streets and concerts is now a different one. This has been a gift, a tribute and a demonstration of the strength we have as Peruvians.” 

Peru is beating to the rhythm of the music and the dances. It is a marvelous cultural event that makes us all proud and creates a connection with the culture. “The cultural issue in Peru has not been as respected as it is now, and we are thinking about the future as well,” she stated.  

ABOUT CULTURAYMI 

It has been designed in nine zones throughout the venues, so that everyone can comfortably enjoy each of the scheduled activities. It has two stages, an exhibition and workshop area, a food fair, a giant screen and a ticket booth for sports competitions (Teleticket), thus offering the visitor a comprehensive experience.