A big party was held this afternoon at the Villa María del Triunfo Sports Center, where Brazil defeated Argentina and win the gold medal in the hard-fought final match of football-5-a-side, an adaptation of football for people with a vision impairment.

The Brazilians scored the first goal during the first half and, despite the multiple attempts of both teams, the scoreboard did not change before the halftime interval. The public filled the sports center and was impressed by the skills of these Para athletes and their attempts to score a goal.

During the halftime interval, the Lima 2019 Games official mascot Milco and volunteers invited everyone to stand up, including Argentinian and Brazilian fans, to dance to the rhythm of “Cariñito,” among other songs.

In the second half and after six accumulated fouls of the Argentinian team, a penalty kick was awarded for the Brazilian team, who scored the second goal. The final score was 2-0.

With the “Brazil champion” chants, the “carioca” team approached the grandstand area after the match to thank the fans, sing together and celebrate the victory.

Tamiris Francis, wife of number 9 player Tiago Silva of the Brazilian football-5-a-side team, said the team deserves this victory because they are really focused and very dedicated. “Being here makes me very happy, and I get excited because I’ve been following them and they’re the best,” she added.

Previously, Mexico overcame Colombia 1-0 and picked up the bronze medal.

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.

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.

Today’s session was historic for American Para powerlifting. From the stands of Sport Center 2 at VIDENA, an amazed crowd could see how the Chilean Juan Carlos Garrido, number one in the ranking, broke his own record and as well the Parapan American record, the same one that he set in Toronto 2015, with 175kg.

This time, the athlete from Antofagasta, who recently won bronze in the World Championship of Para powerlifting in at Kazajistan, lifted 185 kg and picked up the gold medal in Para powerlifting, under-the 59kg category.

With three first successful lifts, Garrido tried to improve his mark by lifting 187 kg, he did not make it though. Brazilian Junior de Franca claimed his first medal in Para powerlifting. 

There’s a considerable difference from his opponents in the medal table, the Brazilian Luciano Bezerra (silver) and the Venezuelan Carlos Betancourt (bronze); whose marks were 151 kg and 150 kg respectively.

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.

Athletes from the football 5-a-side team said goodbye to the Parapan American Games with the support of Peruvian fans, who are called the “the best fanbase in the world” for good reason, because they never stopped rooting for the national team in every match in spite of some bad scores.

Yesterday, Peru lost 5-1 to Brazil, current world champion and Paralympic champion, and the team said goodbye to the competition. However, they received and standing ovation after the match for all their dedication and effort in the Parapan American Games.

While they were all together singing our second anthem “Contigo Perú” at Villa María del Triunfo, the athletes said goodbye and showed their gratitude for all the support they received during competition days. Likewise, after the match, many fans wanted to take selfies with the athletes.

The Peruvian fans pointed out that, despite losing some matches, they have gained a lot of experience and that will be useful in upcoming competitions. “Now, Peruvians know more about this sport and will always support us,” said a Peruvian Para athlete.

Today at 14:30 Mexico and Colombia will compete for the bronze medal and at 17:30 Brazil and Argentina will fight for the gold.

We should remember football 5-a-side is a discipline adapted for people with visual impairment and it uses a ball that makes noise. Each team consists of four people with low visual acuity and/or who do not perceive light, plus a goalkeeper without a visual impairment.