All set for the games! The Peruvian Institute of Sports unveiled Peru’s 153 top athletes on the “Peru’s Elite for Lima 2019” roster. They will compete in the 18th Pan American Games and 6th Parapan American Games, to be held in Lima in 2019.
This group of elite Peruvian athletes was created to provide its members with the benefit of more international competitions and training facilities, a more substantial Athlete Support Program, and better training conditions. The aim is to give them the best chance of winning medals in Lima in 2019.
The ceremony took place at Multi-Sport Complex 1 of the High-Performance Sports Center at the National Sports Complex (Spanish acronym: Videna), and was attended by the President of the Republic, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, the head of the Peruvian Institute of Sports, Oscar Fernández, and the chair of the Pan American Games Planning Committee, Carlos Neuhaus.
“We have worked long and hard. The goal of our efforts is for you to win lots of medals and sing the national anthem on the podium. The bar is set high, but our athletes are professionals,” stated Neuhaus.
Karateka Alexandra Grande expressed gratitude for the government’s support and commitment as hosts of the international event. The talented athlete also promised to give her all for Peru.
“It is an honor to be here and represent the athletes. We give thanks to God and to the President who said yes to the Pan American Games. That means a lot to us. We promise to give one hundred and ten percent. If we all unite, we will be a great team for Lima 2019,” said Grande.
During the ceremony, Alexandra Grande and Carlos Mendoza, representing the contact sport athletes, put on a performance to the delight of those in attendance. The ceremony also spotlighted four athletes that will represent Peru at the Lima Parapan American games in 2019: Israel Hilario (para-cycling), Efraín Sotacuro (para track and field), Pedro Pablo Vinatea (para-badminton) and Niel García (para-powerlifting).
Funds for training
The Peruvian government, through the Peruvian Institute of Sports, allocated 36 million soles as a special fund to help train Peru’s athletes in 2017. The sum will benefit around 700 Peruvians who will compete in the Pan American and Parapan American games. A greater share will go to members of the Peru’s Elite for Lima 2019 group.
This exclusive roster consists of athletes that had success at Olympic, Pan American, Bolivarian, and South American games, or world championships.
Peru’s Elite for Lima 2019 is an open group that can expand to include athletes that show exceptional performance during the build-up to the Games.
Milco, official mascot of Lima 2019
After a massive vote both in Peru and abroad, Milco was chosen as the official mascot of the 18th Pan American Games and Parapan American Games in Lima in 2019. The winning concept is a Cuchimilco, a ceramic, human figurine from the Chancay culture. The figure’s arms are outspread, showing the welcome and hospitality visitors will receive in our capital during the international event.
The singular mascot is the brainchild of Andrea Norka, a graphic designer whose proposal won out over hundreds of drawings sent in during the selection process.
Milco takes his place as the 11th Pan American Games mascot, and will be the face of the major international sporting event to take place in the tourist city of Lima.