Legacy 2019: the plan to give continuous use to the venues of the Pan American Games

The magnificent aquatic scenery of the VIDENA He raised the curtain on a wonderful international party. As if it were a flashback to Lima 2019 … music, dance and bright lights once again adorned the presumptuous pools of the Lima venue. The sports festival has not stopped after two years of the best Games in history. Nor will it stop in the future. The ‘Legacy’ continues.

The public could not miss. Young athletes, much less. Everyone gathered at the Aquatic Center to witness a real show and enjoy the great performances of the Bicentennial National Youth Symphony Orchestra, the National Children’s Choir and the National Folkloric Ballet.

Emotion. Passion. Joy. Many feelings spread all over the place. It was impossible not to get goose bumps after the intonation of the National Anthem in native languages. Spanish, Quechua, Ashaninka, Aymara, Shipibo-Konibo and Awajún emerged in the perfect interpretation of the soloist Ariadna Hermoza.

Music and typical dances of the country were also part of the ceremony. Thus passed a splendid show to inaugurate the South American Youth of Aquatic Sports. In fact, it is totally guaranteed that there will be many more ceremonies like this. And it is that Peru is positioning itself as the capital of sport on a continental level, news that cannot be ignored.

Sports capital

Since Lima 2019, the first-rate sports infrastructures have been maintained with great care. The venues have not been abandoned. Quite the opposite. They have been strengthened and that is reason to continue hosting large-scale tournaments.

In fact, in addition to the South American Water Sports, there are more international competitions that will take place these final two months of 2021 in the country. In fact, from this Saturday the Pan American and South American Championship of Bmx Racing Lima 2021 and Pan American Championships Lima 2021 of table tennis are being played.

“Only in international events we had planned to organize 20 this year and with the South American Water Sports there are already 15 events. And about national competitions, there were 55 scheduled and we are almost 40 ″, Valenzuela indicated.

In La Videna there is constant activity in almost all sports centers. There is no cessation. There will be many more events in 2022. That is good for Peru and, therefore, also for our athletes, who were left without action for a long time due to the pandemic. This would not have been possible if vaccination was not progressing rapidly and successfully.

“Vaccination and the vaccinated population in good account is bringing the reactivation of sport as a benefit. That is extremely important “Valenzuela noted.

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To achieve the objectives, Legacy It works hand in hand with the National Sports Federations, most of which changed managers at the beginning of the year. “We have had a very intense work with them. We coincide in a series of activities and we share our interest in turning Peru into the sports capital of Latin America and why not the world “Valenzuela said.

FINA, delighted with the Aquatic Center

While the South American Water Sports was taking place, the president of the International Swimming Federation (FINA), Husain Al Musallam, visited the Videna sports facility and was delighted with what he saw.

According to Valenzuela,. “They would bring athletes from the region to professionalize here in Peru”, he pointed.

To achieve this, the president of the Peruvian Sports Swimming Federation (FDPN), Níkola Ustavdich, is already making the corresponding coordination with the president of FINA. “In this way, we are not only immersed in the circuit of world sporting events as a country”, said the executive director of Legado.

It should be noted that in athletics it is expected to have the same experience. More than a year ago, Peru failed to access the Junior World Cup in this discipline, as expected. However, in 2022 contacts will be made again to be able to count on the support and support of the international sports community and host a contest of such magnitude.

The examples that followed

Alberto Valenzuela He was general director of Lima 2019 and together with his team with Carlos Neuhaus, they carried out an investigation to evaluate the good and bad experiences in multisport events of that nature.

A) Yes, . In both cases, an entity was created to be specifically in charge of the maintenance and operation of the infrastructures. So, the Legacy of the Games that were organized in the country followed that same line.

“Among the not so good experiences you have the recent Olympic Games in Rio, where the Olympic Village ended up abandoned, the pools ended up green and without water. The Villa de Atletas Guadalajara 2011 ran that same fate. It is about to be demolished and after the Guadalajara Games they were never used again “Valenzuela explained.

“In the closest case, after the 2013 Bolivarian Games, the infrastructure has been completely abandoned … In all these cases, once the event ended, the State initiative ended, without thinking about all the years of sports progress “he added. A story that is not repeating itself nor should it be repeated.

In 2019, Peru was recognized by ‘Panam Sports’ as the country with the greatest sporting advancement on the continent. It is not for less. The Pan American and Parapan American Games were very successful. That is why the work did not stop there.

“So far we are being recognized by different delegations and entities as a benchmark in sports infrastructure and development. We are a source of pride ”Valenzuela said.

More positive news is coming. .

“It has the same standard as the Colorado Springs Sports Medicine Center (United States). And it is also accompanied by a high-performance gym “says Valenzuela.

“This will give us the opportunity to have the best sports technologies and practices, the most current and modern, in our country”he adds.

Heading to Cali

Having first-rate scenarios, both to prepare and to compete, represents a very great benefit for Peruvians. Even more so with the next important competitions such as the Pan American Youth Games in Cali 2021.

“I think the most important thing here is that today they have a similar or better infrastructure than what they will now find at the Pan American Games in Cali. So that gives them an important advantage, because they have prepared in the best scenarios that, after two years, have maintained their international levels and certifications “, indicates Valenzuela.

. Many Peruvians, in their respective disciplines, have a chance to get on the podium and bring joy to the country. It is time to show that the national sport is not only growing at the level of infrastructure and organization.