Peru Chooses Pan Am Games Mascot

(ATR) The Lima 2019 Pan American Games now have a face – well, a statue.

Milco, a mascot inspired by Peru’s traditional Cuchimilco ceramic statues, was chosen by Peruvian citizens in an online voting contest that attracted approximately 44,000 voters. Milco earned 20,000 votes, narrowly besting Wayqi by 2,000 in a contest that featured a larger voter turnout than similar mascot contests for Guadalajara 2011 and Toronto 2015.

Voting opened on June 19 following the shortlist of three finalists – Amantis, Milco and Wayqi – on June 16. The three finalists were chosen out of 1,000 public submissions taken at the beginning of the year.

Voting closed on July 25 ahead of the reveal ceremony on July 26, officially two years ahead of the start of the 2019 edition of the event. Milco was revealed in a public ceremony at the Videna High Performance Center in Lima hosted by Lima 2019 chairman Carlos Neuhaus.

Neuhaus says the impressive voting turnout shows that support and enthusiasm for the Pan Am Games in Peru is steadily growing.

"Milco will be the face of our Games for tens of thousands of spectators here in Lima during the Pan American and Parapan American Games, and for millions of fans across the Americas throughout the buildup to the most important sporting event Peru has ever hosted," he said in a statement.

Milco’s designer, Andrea Norka Medrano Moy, took home $4,600 while second and third place received $3,100 and $1,500 respectively.

The Lima 2019 Pan Ams are slated to run from July 26 to Aug. 11 and the Parapan Am Games from Aug. 23 to Sep. 1.

Written by Kevin Nutley

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