(ATR) Peruvian President Pedro Kuczynski and Panam Sports President Neven Ilic are gaining confidence that the capital of Lima will be ready to host the Pan American Games by July 2019.
The two leaders visited the construction site of the Pan American Village on Jan. 25 and said they were impressed by the speed at which the project is progressing.
"It is crucial that such an important part of the Games is delivered on time and to a world class standard," said President Kuczynski. "After today’s visit, I can say with more confidence than ever that Lima 2019 will deliver an outstanding facility."
The race against the clock to finish the athletes’ village began in September 2017 when construction on the project started during the International Olympic Committee Session also held in Lima. During the Session, Panam Sports President Ilic was elected to join the IOC.
"When I visited the Athletes’ Village construction site in September last year, I stated my optimism about the progress that was being made," Ilic said in a statement. "Today, I saw that I was right to be optimistic.
"The speed at which Lima 2019 are delivering such a high-quality Village is remarkable. I have full confidence that the athletes of the Americas will enjoy a facility of the highest quality."
Around the Rings is told that Ilic will return to Lima in the coming days for a more thorough inspection of the progress being made.
"Ilic will return to Lima on January 28 along with Secretary General Ivar Sisniega to head a Panam Sports delegation that includes its Medical, Follow-up Lima 2019 and Marketing Commissions," a Panam Sports spokesperson told ATR.
Ilic is then expected to travel to PyeongChang on Feb. 3 to attend the IOC Session preceding the Winter Olympics that begin on Feb. 9.
Headed by construction consortium Besco-Besalco, the seven-tower village is expected to be completed by February 2019, six months before athletes will begin to arrive in Lima to train for the Pan Am and Parapan Am Games. Organizers of the Lima 2019 Pan Am Games say the village will house 10,000 athletes and officials during the course of the Games.
"The reaction from President Kuczynski, President Ilic and Transport and Communications Minister Bruno Giuffra has been excellent," Lima 2019 President Carlos Neuhaus said. "I am thrilled with their assessment of the progress being made, which will serve as added inspiration to everyone involved in this project.
"Our objective has always been to create the ideal conditions for athletes to fulfill their potential at the Games and it becomes clearer every day that this will be the case."
Written by Miguel Hernandez
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