The Americas Paralympic Committee (APC) has said it is encouraged by progress made by the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games Organising Committee but stressed that there is not a moment to waste with preparations ahead of next August’s event.
With just over 300 days to go, an APC delegation led by its President Julie Dussliere was in Lima this week (23-35 October), together with colleagues from the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), for the seventh Co-ordination Commission.
Following three days of meetings, which included updates on preparations, as well as venue tours of the Athlete Village and Videna cluster of competition venues, the APC left with a greater understanding of what still needs to be done before the Games open on 23 August 2019.
Julie Dussliere, APC President, said: "Overall, we left Lima impressed at the ongoing work of the Organising Committee and their enthusiasm for staging successful Parapan American Games.
"The infrastructure elements of the project are coming along nicely and set new benchmarks for accessibility in Peru; the Athlete Village is close to completion and the Videna complex in the heart of the city - which will host many sports including athletics, swimming, cycling and wheelchair basketball - is unrecognisable from what we saw 10 months ago. These venues will certainly leave tangible legacies.
"Away from the infrastructure projects, a lot of work still needs to be done in some key areas and there is not a moment to waste in terms of preparations. Lima is a city world renowned for its levels of traffic and the delivery of a strong and accessible transport plan is essential and a top priority for every client attending the Games.
"With more than a quarter of a million tickets to sell, the production of a ticketing plan, sales strategy and campaign also needs need to delivered if the objective of full venues is to be achieved.
"Realistically, the Organising Committee has only five months left before it switches from the planning and preparation phase into Games operational mode with the hosting of Test Events and the delivery of the Games themselves. A great deal of work needs to be completed before then.
"With the Chef de Mission seminar set to take place in February, many of the participating National Paralympic Committees will have questions in order to assist their own Games preparations. The Organising Committee must be ready and in a position to not only answer the questions but stage spectacular Games for the athletes on their road to Tokyo 2020.
"We remain confident that Lima 2019 will deliver excellent Games and Games that will act as a catalyst for change in Peru, making the country a better and more inclusive place for all citizens."
The Lima 2019 Parapan American Games will take place between 23 August and 1 September, attracting around 1,980 athletes who will compete in 17 sports.
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