The sun shines strong these days in Lima, but this does not matter too much, because joy also warms the soul of all the workers at the modern Villa Maria del Triunfo Sports Center that will host the upcoming Lima 2019 Pan American and Parapan American Games. While tightening a bolt, installing one more section of the synthetic grass field or setting up one of the comfortable acrylic seats in the grandstand, these people, who already play the Games with their daily effort and dedication, know that they are getting everything ready to receive at least 250 thousand visitors in this multidisciplinary construction that will leave a great legacy, in terms of infrastructure, for Peruvian sports.
The Villa Maria del Triunfo Sports Center has approximately 21.5 hectares and will be used as a competition venue for ten disciplines. In addition to the modern facilities, easy accessibility and cutting-edge technology, this venue will also have signage and messages in Quechua in the dressing rooms, ticket offices, entrance doors, among others. This is a clear sample of the meaning of the Pan American Games and sports: inclusion at all levels, including culture, certainly.
Shortly before it is officially delivered, there is progress in the construction and some of the facilities are already completed. For example, the Aquatic Center, that will be used for water polo competitions, as well as the imposing greenery and the colorful stands of the stadiums for baseball, softball, rugby, hockey, and the modern basque pelota and fronton courts. Additionally, the extraordinary rugby field will be properly conditioned for the archery events. During the Parapan American Games, Villa Maria del Triunfo will also host football 5-a-side and football 7-a-side in the hockey and rugby fields.
Although the works began in March 2018, with slightly over 150 workers and then almost 1300 workers, the landscape of this emerging area of Lima has been improved and it has also created many employment options. Once the Games are over, this gigantic, multidisciplinary and modern infrastructure will be under the administration of the Peruvian Institute of Sports (IPD), which will take over the management of the sports center to promote the practice of the aforementioned sports as well as sports culture in this part of the city.
The sun shines strong these days in Lima, but this does not matter: almost 1300 people are part of the Pan American Games every day and are about to say “work accomplished” in a very few days. Somehow, they already won their own medals.