Lima 2019 Preparations Under the Microscope

(ATR) The path to the next Pan American Games in Lima, Peru is strewn with complications as organizers have 30 months remaining to finalize preparations.

The problems seem to surpass those traditionally expected by the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO), such as delays in construction that crop up in many host cities.

Lima was awarded the Pan Am Games in October 2013 during a general assembly in Toronto - the last event awarded by former PASO president Mario Vázquez Raña who died 16 months later. PASO also challenged Peru to increase the competitive level of its athletes.

However, as the new year begins, negative information continues arriving from the South American capital as Lima 2019 has already received its fair share of critical assessments from local media.

The microscopic attention on the Lima 2019 Organizing Committee (COPAL) to make up for venue delays has been peppered by other unfortunate events.

Francisco Boza, secretary general of the Peruvian Olympic Committee (COP), faces 18 months of custody awaiting trial following alleged crimes of what amounts to guilt by association and aggravated collusion.

Some sources in Lima reminded Around the Rings that Boza's name has also appeared in the infamous "Panama Papers" scandal.

Boza is a seven-time Olympic shooting competitor, earning silver in Los Angeles 1984. He also carried the flag into the Maracana representing Peru during the Rio 2016 Opening Ceremony.

Boza was the president of the Peruvian Sports Institute between 2011 and 2014 before resigning under pressure from local press reports linking him to a criminal organization headed by an adviser to former president of Peru Ollanta Humala.

At the same time, COP president José Quiñones, Boza, members of COPAL and president of the Peruvian Sports Institute Saúl Barrera face criminal charges and a five-year prison sentence for alleged embezzlement, bribery of public officials and corruption.

"Many questions were raised by the Office of the Comptroller of the Republic (equivalent to the Courts of Auditors) regarding large amounts of public money requested from the Peruvian Sports Institute and the COP to finance several international sporting events between 2012 and 2014 for which there is no justification concerning the correct use of the funds, which has caused the Prosecutor's Office to initiate legal proceedings against about 15 people," a source told ATR.

The picture has become even more complex with the delay of the first payment by Peru of $3.3 million to PASO expected in 2014, one year after the city was selected as host of the event.

One year after his appointment, COPAL chief Luis Salazar had to resign due to the echoes of the scandals that also involved some members of his organization. He has since been replaced by Carlos Neuhaus.

Ivan Dibos, one of the most senior members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) from Peru who joined in 1982, observed COPAL for approximately four months. In a telephone conversation with ATR, Dibos expressed his optimism that Peru will fulfill its commitment to PASO while recognizing the need to accelerate the preparations.

"I have always liked to be positive," Dibos tells ATR.

He praised Neuhaus as the new leader of Lima 2019, calling him "a good person" with "very goodwill". Dibos declined to comment on the other incidents that have caused concern for local media and PASO leaders alike.

Dibos also highlighted the rapidly approaching 130th IOC Session that Lima is hosting from Sep. 12-17. The IOC will select the host of the 2024 Summer Olympics during the session, electing Budapest, Los Angeles or Paris for its flagship event.

Lima will also be hosting the Olympism in Action Congress that will focus on the role of sport in society. The congress will take place on Sep. 16 and 17.

"We expect at least 8,000 people for those days," Dibos tells ATR.

Critical voices for the slow preparation of the Games have been joined by the concerns issued by the Technical and Coordination Commissions of PASO. The commissions will visit Lima again during the last week of February, two months before they will report to the 41 PASO members during its general assembly in Uruguay. The PASO general assembly will also elect its next president during the three-day meeting in Punta del Este.

The Peruvian authorities deny that there is no progress and insist that nothing has been missed as they continue to meet the correct deadlines.

The 28th edition of the Pan American Games begins on July 26, 2019 with athletes competing across 19 venues and 38 sports.

Written by Miguel Hernández and translated by Kevin Nutley.

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