Pan-American Games 2019 in Lima

In just a couple of days the Pan-American Games 2019 will be inaugurated with a festive opening ceremony at the Estadio Nacional in Lima. And the Peruvian capital is ready.

The Pan-American Games are a major sporting event comparable to the Summer Olympic Games but restricted to participants from the Americas. Also known as the 2019 Pan Am Games or Lima 2019, the XVIII (18th) Pan American Games are held in Lima from July 26 to August 11, 2019 (the first competitions however already start on July 24).

During the Pan-American Games, which take place every four years in the year before the Summer Olympic Games, about 6700 athletes from 41 nations of the Americas compete in 39 sports and 62 disciplines.

And even though Lima had to conquer some challenges to host the largest sporting event the country has ever seen, the Peruvian capital is ready.

Sporting facilities are not only up to par, but shine in new splendor; the first athletes and team officials already arrived and found a modern home away from home in the newly build Athletes Village; the torch, that travelled from Cusco, the ancient Inca capital, through the whole country, is already in Lima to light the Pan-American Flame during the opening ceremony on Friday; to ease the traffic chaos July 26- 30 were declared “non-working days” (July 28 and 29 are Peru’s National Holiday) and restrictions on 5 main traffic axes in Lima imposed during rush hour; tickets sales are good; organizers seem to have everything under control and volunteers are ready.

So, let the Games begin!

Official Lima 2019 Logo

The official Lima 2019 logo is inspired by the indigenous yellow Amancaes flower, a native plant endemic to the coastal Peruvian hills and commonly associated with the Peruvian capital.

The three flower petals in green, blue and purple represent three athletes in competition and the three Americas with open arms. They come together in the yellow center which represents the Peruvian capital.

The logo was designed by Peruvian artists Juan Diego Sanz and Jorge Luis Zárate.

Official Lima 2019 Mascot

To find the perfect official mascot for the Pan-American Games 2019 that reflects the history and culture of the Peruvian capital, radiates life and passion, captures the warmth and hospitality of the Limeños and embodies determination, courage, and equality, as well as the spirit of the sporting event, a huge contest was launched in which all Peruvians could participate.

In the end Milco, created by graphic designer Andrea Medrano, won. Milco's design is inspired by the cuchimilco, small ceramics made by the Chancay culture, a pre-Columbian civilization which developed around 70 km north of today’s Lima and extended their influence south into the Lima region between 1100 and1450 AD. The cuchimilco are believed to have been guardians of the tombs of the Chancay people and / or companions in the afterlife.

According to Lima 2019 website Milco is a very cheerful, optimistic and above all hospitable mascot that is characterized by having his arms always open to welcome everyone to the Games. At the same time he represent Lima’s and Peru’s rich historical and cultural past. He wears a sports outfit with red shorts – red is his favorite color and as well the “national” color of Peru.

Lima 2019 Participating Nations

Athletes from all 41 nations who are members of the Pan American Sports Organization are expected to compete.

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Argentina
• Aruba
• Bahamas
• Barbados
• Belize
• Bermuda
• Bolivia
• Brazil
• British Virgin Islands
• Canada
• Cayman Islands
• Chile
• Colombia
• Costa Rica
• Cuba
• Dominica
• Dominican Republic
• Ecuador
• El Salvador
• Grenada
• Guatemala
• Guyana
• Haiti
• Honduras
• Jamaica
• Mexico
• Nicaragua
• Panama
• Paraguay
• Peru (Host)
• Puerto Rico
• Saint Lucia
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Suriname
• Trinidad and Tobago
• United States
• Uruguay
• Venezuela
• Virgin Islands

Athletes Village in Lima

The Athletes Village is located in Lima’s district Villa El Salvador. The newly build complex consists of seven 20-storey high-rises with 1,600 units, green and leisure areas. The expected 9000 athletes and team officials will find a modern home away from home.

Pan-American Games 2019 Sports

Athletes compete in the following sports:

• Archery
• Artistic Gymnastics
• Artistic Skating
• Artisitc Swimming
• Athletics
• Badminton
• Baseball
• Basketball
• Basque pelota
• Beach volleyball
• Body Building
• Bowling
• Boxing
• Canoe (Slalom and Sprint)
• Cycling (BMX, Road and Track)
• Diving
• Equestrian
• Fencing
• Football
• Golf
• Handball
• Hockey
• Judo
• Karate
• Modern Pentathlon - fencing, swimming, equestrian, running and shooting
• Mountain Biking
• Open Water Swimming
• Racquetball
• Rhythmic Gymnastics
• Rowing
• Rugby 7
• Sailing
• Shooting
• Softball
• Speed Skating
• Squash
• Surfing
• Swimming
• Table Tennis
• Taekwondo
• Tennis
• Triathlon - swimming, cycling and running
• Volleyball
• Water Polo
• Water Ski
• Weightlifting
• Wrestling

Venues of the Pan-American Games 2019 in Lima

The different sporting events are held at various venues in Lima and other municipalities in the surrounding region, with most taking place at

• VIDENA - Villa Deportiva Nacional Videna in San Luis (Athletics, Swimming, Diving, Artistic Swimming, Bowling, Handball, Judo, Squash, Badminton, Roller Sports, Table Tennis, Cycling Track)
• Pan American Park in Villa María del Triunfo (Archery, Baseball, Field Hockey, Basque Pelota, Rugby 7, Softball, Water Polo)
• Sports Village of Callao - Villa Deportiva Regional del Callao (Boxing, Wrestling, Taekwondo)
• Military School of Chorrillos - Escuela Militar de Chorrilos (Body Building, Weightlifting, Modern Pentathlon, Fencing, Racquetball)
• Sports complex in San Miguel (BMX, Skateboarding, Roller Sports Speed, Beach Volleyball)

Venues outside Lima include Laguna Bujama, Mala (Open Water Swimming, Water Skiing); Rio Cañete, Lunahuana (Canoeing Slalom); Yacht Club Peruano, Paracas (Sailing); TBD, Paracas (Canoeing Sprint, Rowing), Punta Rocas, Punta Negra (Surfing).

Competition Schedule

A detailed competition schedule / daily schedule, what’s happening now and results can be found on the Lima 2019 website.

The Pan-American Games Torch

The Pan-American Games Torch was ignited in a traditional lighting ceremony full of ancestral rituals of the Aztec culture in Mexico at the ancient ruins of Teotihuacán.

It seems strange that the flame that shines over whole Peru and this spectacular sports event in the Peruvian capital, that brings hope and demonstrates the passion and the true spirit of Olympism was ignited in Mexico. However, the executive director of the Pan-American Games explained during a press conference that the torch was sparked with the “New Fire” (”Fuego Nuevo”) at the location that according to Aztec mythology was chosen by the gods to create the center of the universe. The symbolism of the ceremony expresses the common history of all ancient pre-Hispanic cultures and unites not only two ancient civilizations of the Americas for a celebration of culture and sport, but as well all countries of the region for a joint future.

Anyway, after the lighting ceremony the torch was flown to Cusco, the ancient capital of the Inca empire, and from there brought to the famous Inca citadel Machu Pichu. From there a 22-day torch relay across the whole country started. More than 600 torchbearers carried the flame over 6,500 km through Peru’s mountains, jungle and coast visiting next to 26 cities as well iconic places such as the Mountain of 7 Colors in the Cusco region, the Colca Valley in the Arequipa region, the Titicaca Lake in Puno, the Nazca Lines in the Ica region and the ancient ruins of Chan Chan in the La Libertad region.

On July 26, 2019 the Pan-American Torch will light the Pan-American Flame during the opening ceremony at the National Stadium in Lima.

Inauguration ceremony

The inauguration ceremony of the 2019 Pan-American Games is celebrated on Friday, July 26, 2019 at 06.00 pm at the Estadio Nacional in Lima. Next to the “formal acts” and surely colorful, enthusiastic and typical Peruvian presentations spectators in the stadium and in front of the TV can expect the presence of Luis Fonsi, Juan Diego Flórez, Vania Masías and Pelo D’ Ambrosio.

Watch the spectacular and truly Peruvian inauguration ceremony in our article "Highlights of the Pan American Games 2019"

Tickets for the Pan-American Games 2019

Tickets are available at Teleticket in Wong and Metro supermarkets or at Teleticket online.

ParaPan-American Games 2019

12 days after the closing ceremony of the 2019 Pan-American Games, on August 23, 2019 the ParaPan-American Games, the major sporting event for athletes with disabilities in the Americas kick off in Lima as well.