Lima 2019 Organizing Committee presented several sports that are part of the Pan American and Parapan American Games at the José Olaya Balandra School, in La Perla district, as part of the program “TOP Peru at Schools 2019.”
To promote the Lima 2019 Games, starting on July 26, Marcela Castillo and Hugo del Castillo of taekwondo, weightlifter Hernán Viera and karatekas Jhon Trebejo and Carlos Lam, made an exhibition of their respective sports. Over a hundred students enjoyed the exhibition and the presence of Milco, the Games mascot.
“Being in front of the kids is really exciting, because they see us as a motivation to start practicing our disciplines,” said Marcela Castillo, Lima 2019 ambassador.
Hugo del Castillo, who was signing autographs, talked about the support from the people. “We are happy for all the interest people has shown, especially because taekwondo will be held in Callao and that motivates us even more,” he said.
Jhon Trebejo, a renowned national karateka, also mentioned the importance of promoting sports in schools. “There is people with a lot of talent in other disciplines and the objective of Lima 2019 legacy is to change the sport culture,” he said.
Ismael Mañuico, Pedagogical Coordinator of Physical Education of the Ministry of Education, said that people will commit to sports encouraged by the development of the Pan American and Parapan American Games. “We want people to practice sports so that they have a healthy life,” he said, together with Sebastián Suito, president of the Peruvian Sports Institute.
Jaime Alvarado, director of the José Olaya Balandra school said that these activities “allow the student to be in contact with athletes who teach and reinforce the values, so they identified them as idols.”
Callao will be the venue for volleyball and taekwondo competitions during the Pan American Games, and sitting volleyball and Para taekwondo during the Parapan American Games.
This way, Lima 2019 continues promoting and spreading the Pan American and Parapan American Games, promoting also the integration and values they represent.