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Exactly 22 days until the opening ceremony of the Lima 2019 Pan American Games, the Pan American Flame —that arrived yesterday to Cusco from Teotihuacan, Mexico—, will start the relay that will light up all Peru.
The President of Peru Martin Vizcarra, the President of the Lima 2019 Organizing Committee Carlos Neuhaus, the Mayor of Lima Jorge Muñoz, The President of Panam Sports Neven Ilic, the Mayor of Machu Picchu Darwin Baca, the Lima 2019 Executive Secretary Amalia Moreno, the President of the IPD Sebastián Suito, the Secretary General of the Peruvian Olympic Committee Carlos Manuel Lazarte and members of the Panam Sports Executive Committee attended this ceremony.
A symbolic staging took place to start the Pan American Torch Relay, recalling the chasqui relay, ancient mail system of the Tahuantinsuyo. It starred Genaro Contreras (chasqui), Edwin Cobos (Inca) and Fernando Astete, former director of the Machu Picchu Archaeological Park (first relay torchbearer).
“This is a very symbolic event because the torch was ignited yesterday in Teotihuacan and it arrived to Machu Picchu today, to start its relay across Peru. Lima is ready, waiting for all people of the Americas to compete in the Games,” said Neuhaus.
With the mountain Huayna Picchu as background, President Vizcarra said that this was a very important event, even more significant because it was held at the historic Peruvian sanctuary.
“This Relay will be the start of an event that we are sure will be spectacular, as was the result of our football team, that showed that united, with sacrifice and determination, any goal can be achieved. Our ancestors taught us that here in Machu Picchu, our football players confirmed it yesterday and the athletes from Peru and the 41 countries participating in these Games will do the same. Welcome to this sport celebration. Peru is waiting for you with arms wide open,” he said.
After the ceremony in Machu Picchu, the Pan American Torch will go to one of the main touristic centers of the city, the Templo de Sacsayhuamán. It will then go through the streets of Cusco and end at Inca Garcilaso de la Vega stadium, were a cauldron will be light up, in a symbolic ceremony. The torch will then go to Puno, on July 5.
The Pan American Torch route will continue —for 23 days, across 26 cities of the Andes, Jungle and Coast of Peru— through Moquegua on July 6, Arequipa on July 7, Ica on July 9, Huancayo on July 11, Huánuco on July 12, Tarapoto on July 16, Bagua Grande on July 17, Piura on July 19, Chiclayo on July 20, Cajamarca on July 21, Trujillo on July 22, Huaraz on July 23, to reach Callao on July 25 and finally Lima on July 26, where it will light up the National Stadium signaling the start of the Pan American Games.
During this amazing route, The Pan American Torch will visit landmarks such as the Rainbow Mountain in Cuzco; the Colca Valley in Arequipa; the Nazca Lines in Ica; the Titicaca Lake in Puno; the Ruins of Chan Chan in La Libertad, among others.
ABOUT LIMA 2019
The opening ceremony of the Lima 2019 Pan American Games will be held at the National Stadium in July 26, 2019. This continental event will gather 6680 athletes from 41 countries and delegations from the Americas.
There will be 17 days of competitions and ceremonies between July 26 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 Olympic Games.
The Parapan American Games will gather 1890 Para athletes from 33 countries, participating in 17 sports and 18 disciplines. Competitions will take place from August 23 to September 1, 2019. Thirteen sports will be qualifiers for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
