TEARS, EXCITEMENT AND SONGS IN THE SPECTACULAR OPENING CEREMONY

The spectacular Lima 2019 Parapan American Games opening ceremony made people cry with excitement and sing with joy welcoming 1890 athletes who will compete in 17 sports and 18 disciplines.

The President of Peru, Martin Vizcarra attended the opening ceremony at the National Stadium where 33 delegations paraded.

Before the Para athletes from different countries entered the field, the totem on the stage turned into a tree as a symbol of biodiversity in Peru. Dancers dressed up as flowers from all regions of Peru danced around the three.

The event gathered more than 30 000 spectators who witnessed the impressive performance from 500 artists, out of which 50 had some type of impairment

The choreography started with a town representation inspired in the pre-inca times, members of imaginary Peruvian civilization symbolizing the past of Peru.  The performance had some scenes called: Symbiosis, Maze Chaos, Hope, Horizon and Victory

In the pre-inca town representation participated 60 adults and 8 children, out of which 11 adults and 3 children had some type of impairment.

The main characters of the history were two children who are reunited after a long time and that, as adults, reached the top.

After the presentation, the President of the Lima 2019 Organizing Committee, Carlos Neuhaus delivered the opening speech where he said that having the Parapan American Games was a milestone in the history of Peru.

The President of the Americas Paralympic Committee (APC), Julio César Ávila, thanked the Peruvian people for the organization of the Lima 2019 Games gathering many countries of the continent.

The President of Peru, Martin Vizcarra, delivered the speech welcoming all the delegations participating in the most important event in the continent which goes from August 22 to September 1.

A Para athlete bearing the torch lighted the cauldron shaped like a Peruvian representation of the sun before the fireworks.

The event finished with a performance from Bareto whose version of the cumbia “cariñito” has become the anthem of Lima 2019. The song has been played in all sports venues and in the rehearsals with volunteers.