Lima 2019 aims to leave accessibility legacy

APC delegation visits Parapan American Village ahead of next year’s Games

A team of accessibility experts made up of by Mexican architect Carlos Ramirez, Americas Paralympic Committee (APC) Athlete Representative and architect Ileana Rodriguez and APC Games Integration Paul Freudensprung visit the Lima 2019 Parapan American Village to assess the progress made.

They delivered an accessibility workshop to municipalities’ and ministries’ representatives, as well as to all those who were interested. They also met with Lima 2019 Games Integration responsible people and the Venue supervisors to discuss accessibility measures.

Lima 2019 informed that 340 apartments have so far been built from the 1,096 that the Village will have distributed across seven buildings.

A total of accessible 336 apartments will be made available for the Parapan American Games, between 23 August and 1 September.

Rodriguez said: “There are many things they are working on, but one of the most important ones is that the city is looking at accessibility as a development legacy for after the sixth Parapans have concluded in Lima, in 2019.”

Ramirez added: “This Games are an excellent pretext for changing the city by having an accessibility legacy.”

The Lima 2019 Parapan American Games will take place from 23 August-1 September, with a record 1,850 athletes competing in 17 sports, two more than at Toronto 2015.

Athletics, badminton, boccia, cycling, football 5-a-side, football 7-a-side, goalball, judo, powerlifting, shooting, sitting volleyball, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby and wheelchair tennis will make up the sporting programme.

Mexico City 1999, Mar del Plata 2003, Rio de Janeiro 2007, Guadalajara 2011 and Toronto 2015 are the previous five editions of the Parapans.

Full story is available on Lima 2019’s website (in Spanish).