This morning, around 2000 children from the Villa El Salvador district attended the First Sports, Culture and Youth Festival in front of Ivan Elias Moreno stadium. This event was carried out in association with Lima 2019 Pan American and Parapan American Games to be held in the capital as of July 26.
The event had a massive attendance and it was a great sporting morning. Peruvian Para swimmer and Lima 2019 Games Ambassador, Dunia Felices, was there sharing with kids and teenagers, who participate in different discipline workshops such as chess, football, volleyball, swimming, taekwondo, judo, freestyle wrestling, basketball, boxing, karate, and others; as well as other workshops like capoeira, manga, ballet, music, public speaking, chocolate making, urban dance, and folkloric dance.
“As you can see, I no longer no have hands or feet my friends; but I do have the desire to succeed and prove people that there are no limits. I applaud you for practicing sports, for being constant. We are here, in this beautiful district, one of the venues of our Pan American and Parapan American Games, we should make the most of it by picking up the lesson of consistency, values like solidarity, and support each other,” said Dunia, acknowledging this strategic alliance between Lima 2019 and Villa El Salvador municipality of promoting leisure activities and sports.
This initiative should be applauded because it is already serving 17,000 people, among kids and teenagers. “We welcome the Pan American and Parapan American Games with joy, and this festival is an example of that. Everyone is invited to practice sports and benefit from these public spaces in the district. You will have trainers in every discipline. The values of the Games are ours as well. Welcome to this nice festival,” said Nelly Huamani Candia, Deputy Manager of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth of Villa El Salvador municipality.
Dunia, who also played volleyball, painted, saw the swimming lessons, and in general, shared with all participants, highlighted the important infrastructure legacy that Lima 2019 will leave in Villa El Salvador district (the Pan American Village and the Sports Center.)
Another personality creating a lot of hype at the heart of Villa El Salvador was Milco, Games’ mascot, who greeted children and adults with his usual friendly style, with open arms, promoting the values he represents: unity of a continent and everyone through sports.