Carlos Neuhaus on applying for the 2027 Pan American Games: “We are ready, the country’s exposure is going to be very important”

In addition, he trusts that we can bring out new games. “It is time for others to take the lead. There are very capable people, with experience and who can take over management,” she reaffirms.

How do you personally face the official candidacy for the 2027 Pan American Games? How should we take this news?

You don’t have to be confident. It may be that to another country they say: “Now it’s your turn, and Lima had its chance.”

We are prepared?

Lima has all the venues available, the team of qualified people who were in Lima 2019, and who have also been in Santiago 2023, and some even in the Qatar 2022 World Cup and the Olympic Games (Tokyo 2020), so, they have the possibility of putting together the Pan American Games in a fairly quick way. That’s the first impression I have. I think we’re ready. Maybe some other city could be ready. We understand that Asunción, Paraguay, and some cities in Mexico would also be evaluating the candidacy.

Is this application one of the fruits after what was achieved by holding the Lima 2019 Pan American Games?

The result of Lima 2019 was good. You will put whatever adjective you like. We are all ready. There is recognition. We will not say that it is easy to do it. None of these games are easy, but perhaps easier than for another city. Suddenly they are going to have to take more time. Normally the venue is given six years in advance, so in that sense Lima has already come a long way. So much so that this year you only have to maintain what exists. In some locations there is major maintenance, but everything is ready. The venues have been very well maintained. Legado has done a wonderful job of management, not only maintaining the headquarters but also giving it activity. Right now, I understand that there are 15 thousand kids practicing sports at the Pan American Games venues. That helps, it’s not like other events where the games end and the venues are abandoned. No headquarters were ever abandoned here.

Can we say that we are ahead of other applications?

I cannot speak for the other countries because each one has its own reality, and that will be evaluated by Panam Sports. But we can give the guarantee that some games can be made. When it was my turn to carry out the Pan American Games with only two years and ten months to spare, well, there weren’t many things done. We almost had to do it all. That’s an advantage. I don’t know if other countries can do it.

In terms of investment, how much was spent on Lima 2019 and how much should the budget be for the 2027 games?

The budget of the Lima 2019 master plan that I received was 5 billion soles plus VAT. Later, as we began to make adjustments, they lowered us to 4,300 million with VAT, and we did it with 3,800 with VAT. I even think less. So it’s very likely that it will cost half as much. What must be taken into account is that the games generated economic activity for 5.2 billion soles that employed half a million people directly or indirectly, and more than 82 thousand articles were produced about Lima 2019 abroad, which If PROMPERÚ had had to run a campaign to promote visits to Peru, it would have had to spend a billion dollars. That has been a bit of the result and also the new innovative ways of hiring. Many may criticize what was done government by government, but what if we cannot remain blind to the different and most modern forms of contracting that were used in the Pan American Games, which I would say that almost 99.9% avoided corruption. They were games where none of the corrupt companies were present. We did not have any observations of any loser (bidding company). No work was paralyzed, all those that were started were completed, all arrived on time and even before time. Not like in other games, where while the athletes arrived at the Pan American village, on the other side the workers were working, this has not happened in Lima.

Would the profits be higher in new games?

The impact on economic activity in Lima 2019 was 5.2 billion soles, but that must include the works that were done. Today there will be no new works. The works are already done, maintenance and some complementary things need to be done. It could be less (the profit), but the country’s exposure is going to be very important. During Lima 2019, more than 900 hours were broadcast on television throughout the Americas. Today anyone can go to YouTube and find content from Lima 2019. It is a great opportunity for the city’s works. Lima can accelerate a series of public road works to catch up on everything related to the infrastructure part. It is a great opportunity for Lima to catch up on infrastructure works. The mayor of Lima is aware. It must be remembered that for Lima 2019, works were carried out such as the Armendariz Avenue viaduct, the auxiliary of the Panamericana Sur, and Pachacútec Avenue (Lima Sur). All access to the Villa María del Triunfo headquarters was also made with a reinforced concrete track so that they could withstand many years. This can be a trigger for the investments and improvements that the city of Lima needs to be reactivated. And also, on the other hand, we think that the country’s economy must improve. We must be optimistic about our country. I think it will help. There are a number of collateral benefits for the economy and the city.

What is the current status of the works that were achieved for Lima 2019? How has the management of Legado been so far?

They are all working. At this moment there are more than 15 thousand kids who are involved in sports activities at the Pan American venues. There is intense use of the entire infrastructure. I also want to mention that they are doing very well in terms of Legacy. This started with Alberto Valenzuela, who was my successor, and then with Álvaro Castro, who is a great manager of all the venues, where this year the World Youth Athletics Championships will take place in La Videna. Furthermore, he would have been one of the many people who fell ill with COVID-19 and were able to stay at the Pan American Village. It is estimated that nearly 60 thousand people stayed in the Pan-American village. For example, the Legacy and Reconstruction with Changes, with the model of the Pan American Games, created approximately 14 field hospitals throughout Peru and oxygen problems were solved. The headquarters were used to vaccinate people.

What was left in plans in 2019 and could not be done?

No, nothing. There were later works such as the Biomedical that was done in La Videna, later rooms were made at the Punta Rocas headquarters. We focused on what was needed to make the games.

What works remain to be completed if we receive the 2027 headquarters?

Actually, they are all done. They can be improved. Even stadiums have the space to put temporary stands. So, practically everything is done. Maybe a rowing court can be built, I would love to, but I don’t see it at the moment.

If the Lima 2027 venue is awarded, what road works in the capital could receive help to be completed?

I would love to see Santa Rosa Avenue ready. They promised me that I would be ready for the Pan American Games with bridge and everything, and unfortunately it was not possible. I would like the bridge that connects to the other airport to be ready. It may be necessary to expand the Panamericana Sur to four lanes, from Atocongo to the entrance of the Pumacahua bridge in Villa El Salvador. We need to know in detail the works that the Mayor of Lima (Rafael López Aliaga) plans to do. I imagine that, now, he is going to try to link them to what is needed as a priority for the Pan American Games. I also hope that the Metro lines are ready.