Callao witnessed the victory of William Fernandez, who won the bronze medal for Peru in men’s taekwondo, defeating Argentinian Facundo Novia at the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games.

Fernández beat Novik during the competition held at the Callao Sports Center, where he was cheered on by the audience from start to finish.

The Peruvian representative showed his strength and determination in each point he obtained when facing his opponent.

It must be noted that Peruvian fans made feel their emotion because their chants were heard beyond the competition venue.

After the event, Fernández greeted the spectators with emotion and made gestures of gratitude.

This afternoon, with the support of all spectators, Peruvian Angélica Espinoza claimed the gold medal in Lima 2019 women’s Para taekwondo.

Espinoza fiercely fought for each point, beating her rival Claudia Romero from Mexico.

Each point scored by the Peruvian Para athlete was celebrated by the whole coliseum, who screamed: “Peru, Peru, Peru!” and “Cómo no te voy a querer si eres mi Perú querido, mi país bendito que me vio nacer.” (“How couldn't I love you, if you are my lovely Peru, my blessed country where I was born.”)

During the fight, spectators spelled the Peruvian athlete’s name: Angelica. Every time she scored, fans raised the letters and cheered loud for her.

At the end, Espinoza bursts with joy carrying the Peruvian flag and thanks all fans who supported her.

This event was attended by the President of the Lima 2019 Organizing Committee Carlos Neuhaus, who enjoyed this Para taekwondo event.

We had not seen him in other sports venues but, without a doubt, his gesture of thanking the fans personally at the end of the competition, filled with emotion all the people who attended the Villa El Salvador Sports Center.

This is Carlos Cano Yañes, member of the Peruvian national Boccia team, who after the match against Argentinian Mauricio Ibarbure, accompanied by a person who helps him move in a wheelchair, went to the stands to the see the crowd that was cheering his name and also Peru throughout the game.

There, with halting words and tears in his eyes, Cano told the spectators: “Thank you very much for your support, on behalf of the Boccia team, thank you.” Immediately, some people were moved and began to sob and others took the cell phone to film this emotional moment of a Peruvian participating in the Parapan American Games.

Although the Peruvian lost the match against the Argentinian, the fans noticed that, in each throw of the ball and in each point, Cano showed courage and stamina.

Subsequently, through a dialog, Cano said that he carries the Peruvian flag in this sports competition with honor, pride, passion, and he shares that every time he plays.

“We as members of the Boccia national team want to give a message that our participation reaches thousands of people with impairments and also all Peruvians, so that the whole country notices that we are not invisible, that we are capable and we transmit that when we play,” he said.

He expressed that after the participation of Peru in Boccia, it is expected that more people can practice this sport and represent their country.

Boccia

Boccia is a sport of strategy and accuracy that was originally created for athletes with cerebral palsy, but it is currently played by people with different physical impairments.

In these Parapan American Games, Boccia has several sports classes divided into BC1, including athletes with cerebral palsy, who can have an assistant to perform actions such as passing the ball to them; BC2 for athletes with cerebral palsy who do not require an assistant; BC3 for those who have cerebral palsy or severe physical impairment. They participate using a ramp to throw the ball; and BC4 for athletes who have physical impairments other than cerebral palsy and throw without requiring an assistant.

The Peruvian team in these Games is made up of Dean Acosta, Carlos Cano, Javier Soto and María Cecilia Pancca.

Competitors in this sport have six balls of different colors (red and blue) and the game begins with the throwing of a white ball or target and the score is obtained for every ball that is closer to the jack than the opponent’s one.

He always had a solid dream: to see a venue crowded with fans supporting the Peruvian athletes and Lima 2019 gave him the chance to make it possible. “Para badminton for everybody” was his ideal years ago and he saw it at the VIDENA Sports Center 2 this afternoon. On the court 1, he qualified to the final in the SL3 class (Para athletes with little balance), while his partner Pilar Jáuregui also took the victory.

The Lima 2019 Ambassador had to push himself to the limit to defeat the Cuban Rolando Bello in two sets (21-14 and 21-15), in a match of highest physical effort that lasted more than 43 minutes. At the end of the match, De Vinatea asked for a round of applause for his opponent, who has been competing with him for several years in the professional circuit.

“I’m very proud to see this audience enjoying Para badminton, which is one of the first sports that evolved strongly in Peru. That’s why we’ve come to Lima 2019 with 5 years of preparation and seasoned players who reach the final stages. The support received before is now yielding results,” he said.

Pedro Pablo will compete for the gold medal against the winner of the match between Brazilian Leonardo Zuffo and Canadian William Roussy. At 15 and 21 years old, respectively, both are the new best Para badminton players in the Americas, with medals in Pan American tournaments. The competition is tomorrow at 15:00.

“I’ll face the final with the same mentality: so focused, without pressure, and fighting point by point, countering the strengths of my opponent. Surely, there will be a similar environment and with the people’s support we will try to win the gold medal,” added the Lima 2019 Ambassador.

The Peruvian Para badminton athlete and Lima 2019 Ambassador, Pilar Jáuregui, qualified to the women’s finals for the WH2 category, after beating the Cuban Maydelin Soriano 21-0 and 21-1.

This morning Pilar Jáuregui had already defeated the same opponent during Group A preliminary rounds, 21-1 and 21-7, after only 17 minutes. The Peruvian Para athlete said in an interview with Lima 2019 that after semifinals, she has taken another step towards winning the gold medal in Peru.

“I am very excited because my family and friends were here, along with ‘La Blanquirroja’ at every game. I am so thankful because they play an important part in pressuring the opponent,” she said.

PERUVIAN CELEBRATION

“La Blanquirroja” and many fans came together to the Sports Center 3 of the National Sports Village (VIDENA) in San Luis to cheer loudly for the different Peruvian athletes competing that day.

This is the case of Héctor Salvá, who never stopped receiving cheers from the stands, despite losing to Brazil’s Tavares during preliminary and semifinal rounds.  The same happened before with the Peruvian pair, Robert Fajardo and Ronald Miranda, who gave their all, but lost to the Brazilian pair, Cano and Soares, 21-8 and 21-13 in favor of Brazil.

Something similar happened to our Peruvian Alberto Cadenillas, who also lost to Brazil’s Cavali (21-10 and 21-4). Finally, Pablo Cueto and Jenny Ventocilla in mixed doubles lost to Brazil’s Almeida and Rosso, with scores of 21-19 and 21-18, in a 32-minute game.

Culturaymi, the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games cultural program closes its doors this Saturday, August 31, with wide range of activities you cannot miss. The popular female orchestra Son Tentación are the closing act for the celebration and thousands of people are expected to attend the show.

Orquestando Big Orquestra (Minedu) performance will be held from 18:30 at the Fun Fest Auditorium. At 20:15, the outstanding theater group Yuyachkani will perform one of their most popular acts: The Arts

The female salsa group Son Tentacion will end the show with an awaited concert that promises to be full of people who want to see all the group members and listen to their songs. It is absolutely free.

On other big Culturaymi stage, el Morisco, there will be performances of Caoba (19:00), Nijah Breda with Ysabel Omega (20:25), Ray Callao (19:50) and La Sonora Patronal (23:20).

Special Olympics will present Rebeca Mari Suárez, a 18-year-old girl with Down syndrome who will delight us with her voice in the Culturaymi Auditorium at 15:00. Later that day, at 19:30, there will be a sensory theater play named “Carga Visual: Episodios Escénicos”, aimed at people with visual impairment.

Other activities for children will be held at the Lima Art Museum (MALI), with the workshop: “Make a Milco comic poster” at 14:00; in addition, the theater play called “Sirenas y Pescadores” will be performed at 16:00 

The enthusiastic and colorful parades will be noticed at Plaza de las Banderas (Fuente China) with Uku Pacha, Pasacalle Diablada and Pasacalle from the Asociación Central Folclórica Puno from 16:00, to celebrate with joy the success of this cultural event that offered a program never seen before in Lima.

Art, theater, music, literature, dance, gastronomy, crafts, public service and much more were showcased these days where people enjoyed and relaxed, alongside the Pan American and Parapan American Games. 

Additionally, the different concerts held at Culturaymi have been performed on stages with large screens, multi-colored lights and flawless sound. It was a great opportunity for families to have fun, for free and in an accessible site. This was an unforgettable moment for the ones that could enjoy such a variety of options.

Grand finale Around 5 000 people will attend the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games Closing Ceremony to be held on Sunday, September 1, at 19:00 at the Athletics Stadium in VIDENA (National Sports Village) in San Luis. The main show will have the participation of We The Lion, Laguna Pai, Eva Ayllón and Hermanos Yaipen.

Tickets for this ceremony are already sold out, so no tickets are for sale. Spectators must show their ID and ticket, including minors and senior citizens.

Because of the great attendance expected, the Lima 2019 Organizing Committee (COPAL) and the Peruvian National Police (PNP) have taken all the necessary security measures and provided recommendations to spectators, one of them is about public transportation:

Before leaving your home:

• Remember that you must enter the Athletics Stadium through Gate 10 located at Av. Canadá.
• The venue will open at 17:00.
• The ceremony will start at 19:00 and will last approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes.
• Seats are not numbered.
• All minors under the age of 18 must have an entry ticket and be accompanied by an adult.

Do not bring:

• Plastic or glass bottles.
• Banners, bicycles, scooters, weapons, aerosols, alcoholic beverages or unprocessed food.
• Pets
• Only packaged products with sanitary registration will be allowed. To get to the Athletics Stadium, use the public transportation available in Lima.
• Do not come with particular vehicles.

Road Closures

Av. Canadá, Av. San Luis and Av. Del Aire will be partially closed, at all times.

NOTE: The Athletics Stadium is prepared to receive spectators with an impairment who need to attend in wheelchairs. It has more than 50 spaces to facilitate their movement.

They are Para athletes, examples of self-improvement, and share the responsibility of being Lima 2019 Ambassadors. Their mission is to promote sports, Olympic and Paralympic values.

Dunia Felices, Pedro Pablo de Vinatea, Israel Hilario and Pilar Jáuregui embody the Pan American and Parapan American Games values, such as excellency, friendship, respect, courage, determination, equality and inspiration. 

The four ambassadors continue filling us with emotion and today they will be participating in their disciplines and earning more victories for Peru. Dunia Felices will compete today in 200 m freestyle at the Aquatic Center of the National Sports Village (VIDENA). Pedro Pablo de Vinatea and Pilar Jáuregui will continue competing in Para badminton, collecting more medals for Peru; while Israel Hilario took the victory in Para cycling road today in the Costa Verde beach circuit.

The Organizing Committee of the Lima 2019 Pan American and Parapan American Games (COPAL) developed the Ambassadors Program to promote the sports, Olympic and/or Paralympic values through outstanding athletes and Para athletes and different communication platforms.

But, who are these outstanding athletes? Get to know them a little more:

Dunia Felices

Dunia Felices was appointed as Lima 2019 Ambassador because she is the best example of a hard-working athlete. She never gave up and, thanks to that, has achieved all her objectives since the beginning of her sports career.

The Peruvian Para swimmer won the silver medal in August 2017 at the Medellin Para Swimming Open in Colombia.  Dunia, who was born in Sarhua, Ayacucho, set a time of 1.44.39 in 50 meters butterfly.

She also claimed three gold medals at the Barranquilla 2018 Paralympic Open in 50 m and 100 m freestyle, and 50 m butterfly.

At the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games, she won a bronze medal thanks to her outstanding participation in the women's 50 m butterfly final round, category S5 (S1-S4).

Pedro Pablo de Vinatea

This Lima 2019 Ambassador is a good example of dedication and strength. Badminton has always been his passion: after losing one of his lower extremities, he continued practicing this sport until he became an excellent athlete.

Pedro Pablo worked hard and won the gold medal at the 2014 II Athletics & Swimming Open Championships held in Medellin in 2014 (Colombia).

The Peruvian Pedro Pablo de Vinatea made a great debut at the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games, after beating 2-0 Brazilian Roso in the Para badminton competition.

Israel Hilario

Israel is a great Peruvian Para cyclist, whose goal was always to keep going and break down barriers. It is an example of life. After losing his leg in a motorcycle accident, he decided to continue pursuing his goals.

Hilario claimed the Para cycling world title and was crowned as the best cyclist at the World Cup, both events organized by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the highest cycling organization in the world.

His last competition was at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, where he carried the Peruvian flag. In this event, he placed sixth.

Pilar Jáuregui

For Pilar, there were never any limits. She tried out different sports such as volleyball, surfing, basketball, tennis and badminton until she was 14 when she was affected by an illness.

Since that moment, everything changed for the better because badminton allowed her to bring out her ability and passion for sports.

She was recognized as the best Para athlete of 2018 by the the Americas Paralympic Committee and won three gold medals at the Pan Am Para-Badminton Championships 2018 in singles, doubles and mixed doubles.

They are worthy ambassadors, with great social and human sensitivity, recognized for their great achievements, who seek to live in a society based on the values of sport and respect.

They will stay true to the Peruvian flag in the different competitions in which they participate at Peruvian and international levels. They will always be an example of effort and dedication for new athletes.

It is worth mentioning that a total of 1890 Para athletes from 33 countries will be in Lima until Sunday, September 1, competing in 17 sports and 18 disciplines at the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games. This event also provides a direct ticket for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

At the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games, Pilar Jáuregui made her debut with an important 2-0 victory over American Amy Burnett (21-4, 21-0). This is her first Group A match in the WH2 category (wheelchair).