Pan Am Games Lima 2019: Peru opens its doors to the world. Canada starts with a gold and a bronze in athletics
Pan Am Games Lima 2019: Peru opens its doors to the world. Canada starts with a gold and a bronze in athletics Peru has opened its doors to the world with the Lima 2019 Pan American and Parapan American Games. Casa Perú—a promotional tool that PROMPERU (The Peruvian Exports and Tourism Promotion Board) has implemented around the world during large-scale international events—is the perfect metaphor for the "country we must build". Previous experiences, such as the Russia 2108 World Cup, have allowed, in this opportunity, to design a concept with a richer content in the two Casas Perú of Lima 2019: one located in the Lima Convention Center, where there are journalists from around the world, and another in the Pan American and Parapan American Village in Villa El Salvador, which houses about 10 thousand people, including athletes and members of the 41 delegations. “I believe that a place like this in every game transport us to the different special places of Peru. Although we are dying to travel, we don't have much time to do so because of sports, and this place makes us feel as if we did. We're taking a little bit of Peru with us,” said Pía Colón of the Puerto Rico handball team. Recognition has been given to Amaz Floors, who fabricated the tongue-and-groove floor of the Lima 2019 Casa Perú, as well as to the company Madera Transformada S.A. (Matransa), for its expertise in the assembly of the infrastructure of the PROMPERÚ promotion platform and the other finishes that were also present. "So far, about 3500 people participating in Lima 2019 have visited it and have been able to appreciate a very significant and representative part of Peru. We are quite satisfied and excited about the visiting delegations. This format aims to bring our country a little closer to the world, so that the riches that Peru has throughout its territory can be appreciated and shared," said Torres Paz, a senior official. The woods used to build that Casa Perú are of the highest quality, and were provided by companies that meet international standards. This also shows that, in addition to our superfoods and flagship products, the Peruvian forest resource has an enormous potential. Excitement mounts as athletics events get under wayThe athletics events for the Pan American Games have finally started. The excitement of the Peruvian athletes and the grandstands decorated with the colors of the flags of the participating countries made this day even more special. There were sprint, jump, and throw events. Although she was not able to clock her season’s best time of 10.73, the Jamaican Elaine Thomas won the heat with a time of 11.36. However, she still achieved the best time in 100 meters in this qualification round. One of the most expected events was jump, which featured the Colombian Caterina Ibargüen, considered the best athlete in 2018. Nevertheless, she was left behind by Chantel Malone from the British Virgin Islands. Despite nor winning the event, the Colombian athlete thanked the people who supported her: “All my love to the people of Lima. Thank you for this lovely stadium and for welcoming all athletes.” The first medals were awarded in the discus event, where the Jamaican Andray Dacres landed the gold setting a new Pan American record of 67.68. This way, he surpassed the mark obtained by the Cuban Luis Delis in Caracas in 1983. The women's 10,000 m race offered a lot of excitement. The Canadian Michell Wodak took home the gold medal and broke the Pan American record of 31:55.17 . She even ran another lap carrying her country’s flag, along with her compatriot Lorraine Cliff who was placed third. Kimberly Cardona stood out among the Peruvian athletes. She clocked a time of 58.04 in 400 meters with hurdles, breaking the mark of 58.36 she obtained at the Trujillo Ibero-American Championships in Athletics. -PTC News
