02/08/2019
For the first time ever, since it was first inaugurated in Argentina in 1951, the Pan and Parapan American Games are being held in Peru. Throughout July and August, we will be joined by over 8000 athletes from 41 countries in the Americas to compete in a huge variety of sports and disciplines.
To begin the Games, a 23-day run brought the ceremonial torch from the previous hosts, Mexico, to the new host city of Lima. On July 5th the torch started its journey being lit in the traditional fashion of an Aztec Ceremony at the pyramid of the Sun in Teotihuacan. The journey to Lima started with the torch travelling to Machu Picchu, the historic Incan citadel in the Andes.
After winding through the beautiful mountain trails, it passed through the town of Ollantaytambo, through the cobblestone streets of Cusco, over the breathtaking Lake Titicaca and on through 23 Peruvian towns and cities to travel the extraordinary 5500 kilometres to Lima for the Pan Am Games opening ceremony.
Travellers visiting Peru for this historic event can watch the huge variety of sports from freestyle wrestling and table tennis to the newly introduced 3-on-3 basketball and BMX freestyle. Many of the competitors will be able to qualify for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo 2020.
Following the closing ceremony of the Pan American Games the Parapan American Games will take center stage. 1850 Para athletes from 33 countries will travel to Lima to compete in 18 different sports ranging from judo to football, for the chance to travel to Tokyo for the 2020 Olympic Games.
You can discover more about Peru by speaking with our Inkaterra Explorer Guides at each of our unique hotel locations, such as Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel, in Machu Picchu Pueblo and Inkaterra La Casona, Cusco, which sit along the route taken by the torch ahead of the Pan American Games opening ceremony. Be sure to visit www.inkaterra.com to start your Inkaterra adventure, and learn more about what happens all over the country.
All images from @Lima2019Games
