OUTSTANDING ATHLETES HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO CARRY THE TORCH IN PUNO

Wilma Arizapana knows what it is like to participate in the Pan American Games. She was part of the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games in Canada and had an outstanding participation. This is why she was chosen to carry the Pan American Flame, which was originally lit in Mexico and is touring around Peru until the day of the Opening Ceremony of the Lima 2019 Pan American Games.

Wilma, our champion, arrived at the Enrique Torres Belón Stadium in Puno along with 52 torchbearers. Among the Pan American torchbearers, 73-year-old Ovidio Velasco wore the Lima 2019 Games uniform and ran 200 meters carrying the Pan American Flame. “I am proud to have this honor,” he said, noticeably excited and happy, showing that there is nothing that can stop someone from achieving their dreams.
 

Mariana Quintanilla could not stop smiling. The athlete will be part of the Pan American Games for the third consecutive time. She will participate in shooting—in the pistol category—and she claims to be more than ready to take the gold. "I’m so excited to represent my country again, and even more now as we’ll compete at home,” concluded the athlete, who celebrated alongside the people from Puno.
 

Puno, a city bathed by Titicaca lake and known as the Capital of the Peruvian Folklore, experienced a special day with the arrival of the Pan American Torch, which is touring 26 cities around the country.

ABOUT LIMA 2019

The opening ceremony of the Lima 2019 Pan American Games will be held at the National Stadium on July 26, 2019. This continental event will gather 6680 athletes from 41 countries and delegations from the Americas. The Lima 2019 Pan American Games’ Sport Calendar will kick off two days earlier, July 24, with handball.

There will be 19 days of competitions and ceremonies, between July 24 and August 11, which will take place in 14 districts of Lima and Callao at various venues like VIDENA, Villa María Sports Center, Callao Regional Village, Villa El Salvador Sports Center, Punta Rocas, among others.

The Lima 2019 Pan American Games will include 39 sports and 61 disciplines, in which athletes will compete for gold, silver and bronze medals. A total of 22 disciplines are qualifiers for the Tokyo 2020 the Olympic Games.

The Parapan American Games will gather 1890 Para athletes from 33 countries, participating in 17 sports and 18 disciplines. The competitions will take place between August 23 and September 1, 2019. Thirteen sports will be qualifiers for Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.