To commemorate the 100-Day milestone counting down until the start of the Pan American Games of Lima 2019, the Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB) organized an important and emotional event in a Peruvian restaurant in Sao Paulo with outstanding athletes competing at Lima 2019 and athletes who competed at Pan American Games in the past.
The President of Panam Sports, Neven Ilic, was the Guest of Honor at this ceremony where the leaders of Brazilian sport were also present, including the President of the COB, Paulo Wanderley. In addition, two of the country’s most decorated Pan American Games athletes, swimmer Thiago Pereira (23 medals) and tennis player Hugo Hoyama (15), also attended the ceremony.
"Time Brasil is in the final phase of building its team for Lima. Right now we are waiting on the qualification of a few teams and athletes, but we have an initial forecast of 492 athletes, which is a very impressive number and could still increase. Our preparation plan is fulfilled, and so are the needs of our athletes," said Paulo Wanderley Teixeira, President of the COB, during the event held in partnership with PROMPERÚ.
"I am very happy and grateful for the invitation that President Wanderley has given me, it is always an honor to come to Brazil. Regarding the Games, I can tell you that Lima has been working in a fantastic way, in a very short time. The sports facilities and the Pan American Village are first-class. I think Lima 2019 will be a positive surprise for everyone," said Panam Sports President, Neven Ilic.
The top authority of Americas Olympic Movement took the opportunity in Brazil to invite Thiago Pereira to be an Athlete Ambassador of the Lima 2019 Pan American Games.
"I did not expect it, it was sensational. I have to see how I could arrange that trip because I will also be in South Korea with FINA. But it’s a great honor, because I might not have gone, but now, who knows, maybe I can go and encourage my fellow athletes from Time Brasil," said Pereira, the most decorated Pan American Games medalist in the history of the event.
The COB also announced its plans for the Panam Games, with the main objective of qualifying as many athletes to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in as many sports as possible. In total, 22 sport at Lima 2019 will qualify athletes to the next Summer Olympic Games.
"The Pan American Games grew a lot in relation to the qualifications for the Olympic Games, and we also adopted that as a goal. It is an opportunity to test our skills, allowing us to improve the quality and experience for our athletes. And it also provides a multisport experience to young people, who will have the opportunity, for example, to live with other athletes in the Panam Village," said Jorge Bichara, Director of Sport at the COB.
Source : Brazilian Olympic Committee
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