ATR First: Lima 2019 President Ensures Pan Am Village Delivery

(ATR) Lima 2019 Organizing Committee president Carlos Neuhaus tells Around the Rings construction of the Pan American Village will be finished five months before athletes arrive in Peru for the Pan Am Games.

With a construction company slated for selection on Sep. 8, this gives just 17 months to complete the project that will house 6,700 athletes. Neuhaus understands the concerns of PanamSports leaders who question the timeline of construction but is optimistic in its delivery.

"I'm worried too, if not, we would not be working with the intensity that we are, but I think we have the situation under control," Neuhaus tells ATR in an exclusive interview following his presentation to PanamSports leaders in Miami. "I will stop worrying about it the day of the Games."

He reiterated that the six bidders to build the village – one of which will be chosen on Sep. 8 – demonstrates the belief by many that the short construction timeline is difficult yet feasible.

A total of 44 firms participated in the bidding process, which Neuhaus says is a record. The global selection process has been led by British experts from a cooperation agreement with the government of the United Kingdom.

"The number of international bidders, first class companies, to build the Village would not have been so high if they believed that the project was unfeasible," Neuhaus said.

Organizers are beginning four more bidding processes for projects that will require less work than the village but will also include tenders from international experts.

Neuhaus added that Lima does not have to build any large stadiums and that it has more than 60 percent of the infrastructure required to host the Pan Ams, although some venues need to be refurbished.

He reiterated that the maximum total investment for the Games is estimated at $1.2 billion, of which about $900 million would correspond to the sports infrastructure.

He said that the city will also make a major investment of $850 million to improve the highway problems of Lima. This investment is not included in Lima 2019’s budget and is a project that was already planned in advance that will benefit the citizens of Lima.

A PanamSports infrastructure sub-commission recently traveled to Lima to inspect the city’s preparations for the Games. Neuhaus says the commission had "certain concerns" with the soil structure on which the Pan American Village will be built.

"We inform you that we have carried out all pertinent studies to ensure security knowing that Lima is a seismic city," Neuhaus tells ATR. "Today, there are very advanced techniques to work with anti-seismic mechanisms."

Neuhaus says that the Pan American Village will remain as a housing complex after the Games and rejected that the new facilities will remain as "white elephants" after the Pan Ams leave Lima.

He recalled that Lima’s last indoor swimming venue that met international was built in 1962, demonstrating the country-wide need for sports infrastructure improvements.

"All the works that will be undertaken will be to advance sport the day after [the Games], so you will have to go looking in Africa for any white elephants," he quipped.

On Tuesday, Neuhaus will talk with Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski to update him on his presentation to the PanamSports Executive Committee meeting that concluded on Monday as well as progress towards the continental sports event.

A meeting of PanamSports executives will take place in Lima from Oct. 10-11. The 2019 Pan American Games will be held between July 26 and Aug. 11, with 6,700 athletes competing in 39 sports. The Parapan American Games will be held from Aug. 23 to Sep. 1.

Written by Miguel Hernandez and translated by Kevin Nutley.

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