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Institucional
A happy coincidence will happen tomorrow in Tarapoto. The feast of the “Patrona del Triunfo de la Santísima Cruz de los Motilones” is a significant religious event which locals celebrate, so it is a holiday in Tarapoto. It is the perfect time to receive the Pan American flame.
The first torch will be lit at 09:43 in Tarapoto’s Municipal Stadium and will travel 26 km throughout Tarapoto, the longest relay so far in Peru. The last torch will be lit at the Plaza de Armas, where traditional dances, such as chimaichi, pandilla, and twist de la selva, will accompany the flame's arrival to lit the cauldron.
Top athletes from the region, such as long-distance runner Gamaniel Huamán, winner of 60 km and 80 km international events, will bear the flame that will be passed by over 200 torchbearers. In addition to athletes, people who have made significant contributions to Tarapoto and those with inspiring stories were also appointed as torchbearers. One of them is William Reátegui, a teacher who works in rural areas and struggles to offer children a better future through education. And the most inspiring torchbearer is Irma Sangama, a fellow teacher who had an accident and was unable to walk for many years, but through her determination she was able to take her first steps and to prove her students that we must work hard day after day to achieve our goals.
