National Holiday Could Boost Lima 2019

(ATR) A national holiday in Peru on Monday could help boost attendance at the Pan American Games.

Independence Day, celebrating Peru’s freedom from Spain, actually began on Sunday and continues through Monday.

With schools and many businesses closed, residents of Lima may be more inclined to spend part of the holiday attending one of the 28 medal events on offer at Lima 2019.

A quick start by the Peruvian team, which took home three gold medals on Saturday, is likely to have helped pique interest in the Games for the locals.

There are nine sports awarding medals on the third full day of the Games: artistic gymnastics, 3x3 basketball, canoe sprint, equestrian, shooting, taekwondo, triathlon, waterski, and weightlifting.

Waterski has the most medal events with seven followed by canoe sprint with five.

Monday marks the first day of competition for six other sports: artistic swimming, badminton, baseball, field hockey, surfing and tennis.

Athletes Voting in Pan American Village

Athletes competing at Lima 2019 are eligible to vote for five new members to the eight-member Panam Sports Athlete Commission during the Games.

There are 13 candidates competing for the five open positions:

Ana Maria Rendon Martinez (Colombia - Archery)

Julian Fletcher (Bermuda - Swimming)

Isabel Swan (Brazil - Sailing)

Paola Longoria (Mexico - Racquetball)

Ruben Limardo (Venezuela - Fencing)

Walter Perez (Argentina - Cycling)

Melissa Humana-Paredes (Canada - Beach Volleyball)

Thomas Flossbach (Guatemala - Archery)

Esteban Bustos (Chile - Modern Pentathlon)

Amber Joseph (Barbados - Cycling)

Tony Azevedo (USA - Water Polo)

Christopher Binnie (Jamaica - Squash)

Diego Castillo (Panama - Swimming)

Athletes can vote for their preferred candidates on tablets located at the Panam Sports Athlete hub in the dining hall of the Pan American Village.

Voting tablets can also be found in all of the regional and satellite Athlete Villages, ensuring every athlete has a chance to vote.

Those who are elected will join current Athlete Commission members Carlos Santiago of Puerto Rico, Adriana Escobar of El Salvador and Aliann Pompey of Guyana who will continue to serve until the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games.

The election runs through August 10, with the results revealed on August 11, the final day of the Games.

Panam Sports says it will ensure those elected provide a gender, sport and regional balance to the Athlete Commission.

Written by Gerard Farek in Lima

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