KEITH JOSEPH: “SO FAR, THIS HAS BEEN THE BEST PRESENTATION OF LIMA 2019”

Keith Joseph, Panam Sports third Vice-president and head of the Lima 2019 Coordination and Follow Up Commission, arrived to our city to attend the Pan American Games Chefs de Mission Seminar held on January 22, 23 and 24, which brought together Chefs de Mission from the 41 participating countries.

During the meeting , also attended by other Panam Sports representatives, such as Secretary General Ivar Sisniega, Lima 2019 Organizing Committee presented the progress made during the last few months in areas like security, accreditation, transport, accommodation and sports infrastructure. All of this was made so Peru would be ready to receive more than 6,700 athletes on July 2019.

During one of the competition venue tours, Joseph, who is also the Secretary General of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Olympic Committee, discussed the importance of the Games to unite the countries of the Americas, the Seminar’s success and the specific progress seen in the venues.

Are you impressed by the progress Lima 2019 has made in the last few months?

I have visited Lima in several occasions during the last two years and every time we came, we find a significant progress in the infrastructure works and also in the management of several components and arrangements for the Games. So, yes I am pleased. Tough I might say that I would like to have seen more progress, but I trust engineers and authorities who have guaranteed that the remaining works will be finished on time. However, the infrastructure looks good, really good. I think this will allow Peruvians to see those changes in society that will encourage them to become part of the Games.

How successful has been this NOCs Seminar? What response from the Chefs de Mission have you noticed?

I think that all Chefs de Mission have expressed their satisfaction. They are really impressed by the quality of the facilities. Many of them did not know so much about Peru before, so they were not sure what to expect. But since they arrived, they have started to review the facts and history of Peru; and they have also started to understand that this is a significant time for the country. The presentation in the Pan American Games Chefs de Mission Seminar was excellent. It was the best I have seen since we started visiting Peru because of the quality of the slides and presentations; and the ability of the speakers to answer questions rapidly.

How significant is the record number (25) of sports, qualifiers for Tokyo 2020 in the Lima 2019 Pan American Games? In what way the interest the Games will arise around the world is a decisive factor?

That is one of the most important factors because, at first, it gives athletes the chance to qualify very early and start their preparation for Tokyo 2020 sooner. But it is also a mean to bring athletes with better competition levels to the Games. Precisely, that was one of the problems we have had in the past. And we have deliberately focused and made efforts to have more qualifying events because we know that they will attract TV audiences around the world, who will want to know who in the Americas has reached the level to go to Tokyo 2020. I think that is one of the best marketing tools for the Games.

How do you think sports can unite the Americas and what is the role of young Peruvians in this multi-sports event considered so important for our countries?

I think that Peruvian youth should want to become part of these Games, because the legacy will be significant, not only in terms of infrastructure but also in skills improvement of young students who want to become interpreters, engineers, sports managers, etc. I think it will be a great experience to be a part of a new aspect of Peruvian development and it will also help them to see sport as part of national development. On the other hand, for us in the Caribbean, it is important to recognize that there is not really a great difference between us, people from the Americas, as nations.  We have a very similar colonization history. Food and culture, for example, are similar in many ways, etc. And now we have the chance to fill some gaps.  The Games have the potential to unite the Americas and harmonize our talents and team skills.