The official Lima 2019 Games medals were unveiled this morning in a historic and prominent ceremony. The opening ceremony of the most important multi-sport event in the continent is 15 days away.
The National Society of Mining, Petroleum and Energy (SNMPE), through its "Minería de Todos” (Mining for All) campaign, symbolically presented the medals to be worn by the champions of the Americas on the podium at the Lima 2019 Pan American and Parapan American Games. These were fabricated using metals produced by Peru’s formal mining industry.
The Lima 2019 Organizing Committee President Carlos Neuhaus and the SNMPE President Manuel Fumagalli presented the coveted medals that symbolize Peru's identity, the direct and indirect work done by over 1.5 million Peruvians, and their history. A total of 4941 medals were produced for the Pan American and Parapan American Games, including 1582 gold, 1582 silver, and 1777 bronze for both events that will put Peru on the world scene.
Carlos Neuhaus highlighted the presentation of these historic medals, as they reflect the efforts of all Peruvians to take the most important Games of the continent forward. “These medals had to come from our Peruvian Andes; from the formal mines working every day. The medals were produced using Peruvian minerals, and we are happy the SNMPE accepted the challenge of fabricating them with Peruvian motifs,” said the President of COPAL.
“We're proud to have the traditional Inca quipu as one of the figures, which has not been completely decoded yet and whose writing remains a mystery. We're 15 days away from the Pan American Games, and the Pan American Torch is traveling across Peru. We're preparing an opening ceremony where over five thousand years of Peruvian history will be shown to the world. Juan Diego Flórez has confirmed his participation. We're ready, against all odds, to welcome all visitors. As our slogan says, “Let's all play”, so the SNMPE joined us to make the medals that will be a source of pride for the winners,” he added.
Meanwhile, Manuel Fumagalli expressed his contentment to deliver the medals for the Games. “We're happy because the SNMPE mining sector will contribute to an event staged in Peru with the medals. The winners will take a piece of Peru with them. The medals symbolize the direct and indirect work of over 1.5 million Peruvians involved in formal mining. We're very proud of our mining sector and its history. We are proud to be part of the Lima 2019 Games. This is a great opportunity to show Peru's uniqueness to the world. This allows us to showcase our cultural wealth, so we are glad to contribute with gold, silver and copper (used to fabricate the bronze medals) for the champions of the Americas," Fumagalli said.
Among the attendees to the presentation of the medals were also Claudia Suárez, 20-times national champion of Paleta Frontón and one of the favorites to win gold at the Pan American Games; Sebastián Suito, president of the Peruvian Institute of Sports; as well as Juan Antonio Silva, Lima 2019 Communications, Commercial and Marketing manager; Pablo de la Flor, manager of SNMPE; Enrique Lastarria of the National Paralympic Association of Peru; and Ricardo Duarte, member of COPAL and a Peruvian basketball figure.
ABOUT LIMA 2019
The Lima 2019 Games Opening Ceremony will be held at the National Stadium of Peru on 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, 2019, which will take place in 14 districts of Lima and Callao. Some venues are the 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 62 disciplines, in which athletes will compete for gold, silver and bronze medals. A total of 23 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. Fourteen sports will be qualifiers for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
ABOUT PANAM SPORTS
Panam Sports (formerly known as Pan American Sports Organization - PASO) is the governing body of the Pan American Games and its structure and actions are defined by the Olympic Charter. The Pan American Games Movement is made up by the National Olympic Committees recognized by Panam Sports, and each of the Pan American Games Organizing Committees.
Panam Sports is the leader of sports and the Olympic Movement in the Americas. Panam Sports encourages the sports development and supports the work of the 41 National Olympic Committees members of the organization in order to inspire more world-class performances and the next generation of athletes across our region.
Panam Sports works closely with athletes, National Olympic Committees (NOCs), Organizing Committees of all regional Games, Pan American Sports Confederations, International Federations (IFs) and the International Olympic Committee to ensure the success of their main event: the Pan American Games.
IPC and APC
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) is the international governing body of the Paralympic movement. This committee’s objective is to organize the Summer and Winter Paralympic Games and to act as the International Federation of nine sports, in order to supervise and coordinate the World Championships and other competitions.
The Americas Paralympic Committee (APC) was established in August 1997 with the aim of creating a Para sport governing body for the Americas. Since 2007, the Parapan American Games are held by the city that hosts the Pan American Games.