The most outstanding athletes from Ica and Nazca will be the torchbearers to continue the Pan American Torch journey, which started on July 4 in the Machu Picchu citadel.
The flame will continue its tour in Ica, the city of eternal sunshine, where former Barcelona Football Club and Peruvian team striker Hugo Sotil—known as “El Cholo”—will light the cauldron at the José Picasso Peratta Stadium.
“El Cholo” and another 61 torchbearers will relay the Pan American flame in Ica.
Among other leading sports figures from Ica carrying the torch is triathlon athlete Arturo Yarasca Gabriel, who has never thought of competing with an orthopedic hand as an obstacle.
The relay will also feature well-known citizens chosen by people as “Peruvians whose stories shine”, such as César Chávez Mejía, a volunteer of the regional hospital regarded as a role model in Ica. He helped to rebuild the city after the 2007 earthquake.
This section of the Pan American Torch Tour will start on Tuesday, July 9 at 9:49 at the Cantalloc aqueducts in Nazca. This mysterious tourist city will have 12 torchbearers, who will light the journey that will end at the Nazca lines viewpoint at 10:55.
The tour continues in Ica on July 9 at 3:35, starting from the Avenida Los Maestros roundabout.
One of the places where the highest turnout is expected is the courtyard of the recently reconstructed Luren church, where the relay will occur at 4:15. The tour will end at 6:40 at José Picasso Peratta Stadium, where the big celebration will be held.
It is worth noting that Ica will be one of the Pan American Games competition venues, hosting the sailing competition to take place at the Bahía de Paracas.