Lima 2019: More ambassadors announced

“It is an honour to be ambassadors for the Games. We are only two years away from fulfilling our dream of hosting such an important event.”

Para swimmer Dunia Felices, wheelchair basketball player Alejandra Callirgos, Para cyclist Israel Hilario Rimas and Para track and field athlete Luis Miguel Sandoval were announced as ambassadors for Lima 2019 to celebrate two years to go until the sixth Parapan American Games get underway.

Peru’s well-known TV and radio presenter Gina Parker was also presented as an ambassador for the Games.

“I am very happy for this and very excited about potentially winning another medal for Peru at Lima 2019,” said 2015 world champion Rimas.

Felices added: “We have the tough challenge of winning medals on home soil at Lima 2019. We will train very hard to reach the Parapans in our best possible shape.”

Callirgos said: “It is an honour to be ambassadors for the Games. We are only two years away from fulfilling our dream of hosting such an important event.”

Lima 2019 President Carlos Neuhaus and National Paralympic Association of Peru President Luisa Villar were among the attendants to the ceremony.

“We are working to deliver good Games. There is a special vibe in the atmosphere and I admire the hard work and the effort of all the athletes,” said Neuhaus.

Villar added: “Para athletes are a symbol and the media should pay more attention to them. They are competing in many international events representing Peru.”

Wheelchair basketball player Pilar Jauregui, Para swimmer Maria de Jesus Trujillo, Para badminton player Pedro de Vinatea and Para track and field athlete Efrain Sotacuro had been announced as ambassadors last May.

Official website relaunched

As part of the celebrations, Lima 2019 presented their revamped website, which is accessible for people with visual and hearing impairment.

Exhibition

After the announcement, all the attendants and journalists covering the event took part in an exhibition where they tried different Para sports such as boccia, sitting volleyball and wheelchair basketball.

The Lima 2019 Parapan American Games will take place from 23 August-1 September, with a record 1,850 athletes competing in 17 sports, two more than at Toronto 2015.

Athletics, badminton, boccia, cycling, football 5-a-side, football 7-a-side, goalball, judo, powerlifting, shooting, sitting volleyball, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby and wheelchair tennis will make up the sporting programme.

Mexico D.F. in 1999, Mar del Plata, Argentina, in 2003, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2007, and Guadalajara, Mexico, in 2011, staged the four previous editions of the Parapan American Games.

More information is available on Lima 2019’s website.