New British Ambassador to Peru Praises Status of Lima 2019 Project

Lima; 13 April 2018: The new British ambassador to Peru, Kate Harrisson, has praised the status of the Lima 2019 Pan American and Parapan American Games project after her first site visit.

As the British ambassador to Peru, Kate Harrisson will be central to reviewing the progress of preparations for the Games and ensuring the Peruvian and United Kingdom government-to-government (G2G) agreement continues to work successfully. The G2G agreement was sanctioned in April 2017 to help Peru benefit from the United Kingdom’s (UK) proven history in delivering meaningful economic, social, urban, and sporting legacies from major sporting events.

Harrisson replaces Anwar Choudhury, who has become the new Governor for the Cayman Islands. Choudhury was instrumental in securing the G2G agreement between Peru and the UK.

The Director General of the UK Department of International Trade (DIT) Catherine Vaughan, and the Director of International Trade in Peru Francine Torbett, joined Ambassador Harrisson on the visit. During their time in the Peruvian capital, Ambassador Harrisson, Vaughan and Torbett visited the Pan American Village in the Villa El Salvador district and the VIDENA sports complex.

Lima 2019 President Carlos Neuhaus praised the commitment of Ambassador Harrisson to the project so early in her new role:

"I would like to thank Ambassador Harrisson and her team for showing such strong commitment to ensuring this project remains on track. In the past two years, since we signed the G2G agreement with the UK, we have made astonishing progress and I would like to thank everyone involved for their hard work in this time. If we keep this up for the next fourteen months, Lima 2019 will be remembered as an outstanding Pan American and Parapan American Games."

After the site visits, British Ambassador Kate Harrisson praised both the speed and quality of the progress being made:

"There has clearly been significant progress made in a short space of time, which is testament to the hard work of the Lima 2019 Organising Committee and the success of the G2G agreement in place. Visiting key Lima 2019 sites was a priority for me and I am delighted to have had the opportunity to do so in just my second week in the country. It is an honour for the UK to be working hand-in-hand with Peru to deliver what I have no doubt will be a memorable Games."

Ambassador Harrisson, Vaughan and Torbett toured the construction site of the Pan American Village, where the seven towers will house over 10,000 athletes during the Games. Ambassador Harrisson drew comparisons of the potential legacy at the Village to the legacy at the London 2012 Athletes’ Village:

"These buildings will leave a great legacy after the Games, where they will serve as high-quality, accessible and affordable apartments for families in Peru. I am confident that we will see the same impact at the Lima 2019 Pan American Village that we have seen in London after the 2012 Games, where the Olympic Park rejuvenated the Stratford area in London."

-ENDS-

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