Lima, Peru; 23 August 2018: The Lima 2019 Organising Committee and the National Paralympic Association of Peru (ANPP) have held a Para sports exhibition in the Peruvian capital to celebrate the milestone of one year to go until the Parapan American Games.
The exhibition took place yesterday at VIDENA, which is one of the main venue clusters for the Games, and featured demonstrations in wheelchair basketball, goalball, sitting volleyball, football 5-a-side and Para taekwondo.
Peruvian Para athletes who will compete at the Games next year were present at the event. They were joined by Lima 2019 ambassadors, including Pilar Jáuregui, Dunia Felices, Pedro Pablo de Vinatea, Efraín Sotacuro, Percy Rojas and Jorge Arriola. The event was also attended by Lima 2019 President Carlos Neuhaus, AANP President Lucha Villar and Peruvian Olympic Committee (COP) President Pedro del Rosario.
Americas Paralympic Committee President Julie Dussliere said:
"Time is flying, and it is amazing that we are only one year away from the biggest Parapan American Games in history.
"The Lima 2019 Organising Committee has been working extremely hard, and I am confident they will deliver an outstanding event, the first of its kind to be held in Peru. I can already see how excited and passionate everyone working with the organisation is."
"This will be a huge opportunity for all people living with an impairment in Peru. This will be the first time many people will be able to witness first-hand the exceptional abilities of Para athletes. Lima 2019 has the potential to transform Peruvian society."
Lima 2019 President Carlos Neuhaus said:
"Organising the Parapan American Games is a major task as we need to ensure that they are accessible to all. We are working hard to ensure that everyone can take part in the Games.
"We are dedicated to providing Para athletes with the best conditions to compete in, and I am looking forward to watching them give it their all for their countries."
ANPP President Lucha Villar said:
"Para sports are a right. The Parapan American Games will help change perceptions in the country. Lima 2019 is an inspiration for us all and highlights the courage of Para athletes."
The Games will bring together 1,890 Para athletes from 33 delegations who will compete across 17 Para sports and 18 disciplines. The competition will take place between 23 August and 1 September 2019, 12 days after the completion of the Pan American Games.
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