The modern VMT Aquatic Center, located at the Villa María del Triunfo Sports Center, was the setting for the group draw for water polo competitions, just after the delivery of the sports center to the Peruvian Swimming Federation. Peru will be part of Group B in both categories.
In men’s, Peru will compete against Brazil on August 4 at 19:30, then against Mexico and, finally, against Argentina. While in women’s, Peru will face Mexico the same day, at 12:30, and then will compete against Cuba and Canada. The fixture of both categories will develop in parallel until August 10 at the VMT Aquatic Center. (see complete fixture in appendix.)
The Lima 2019 Executive Director, Carlos Neuhaus; Peruvian Institute of Sport President, Sebastián Suito; and the Executive Director of the Swimming Union of the Americas, Gregory Eggert, attended this draw ceremony. The captains of the Peruvian national teams were in charge of distributing the balls with the names of the countries.
“I’m impressed by the quality of this stage in Peru. It’ll be on par with this high-level event, in which the best national teams of the continent will try to qualify for the Olympic Games next year. The public will see a high-level sport spectacle,” said Eggert.
COMPETITION SYSTEM
The VMT Aquatic Center will house the top water polo players in the Americas and will have a capacity for 500 fixed seats and 1000 seats in temporary grandstands. The United States, current Pan American champion in both genders, will come to Lima to defend its title.
The tournament will consist of four stages: preliminary, cross quarter finals according to the ranking in the first stage, semifinals, and the grand final. The matches will be governed by the rules of the International Swimming Federation, and each team will submit a list of 11 players.