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By Aldo Taboada
Since last July 26, Peruvians roam the streets with swollen breasts of pride in front of the level and the quality of the opening ceremony of the festival. Panamerican Games Lima 2019. Two weeks later, and after its completion, we retain the same feeling when we notice an impeccable development of skills.
The organizing committee of Lima 2019 He has repeatedly recognized that one of the bastions of his success is the work done by the 19,000 volunteers of the contest: young, adults, students, professionals, national and foreigners who stand out on the playgrounds with his uniform: khaki pants and white jacket with yellow sleeves.
Volunteers Lima 2019 They work in the areas of marketing, spectator service and the press. All received pre-event training, had the opportunity to choose a specific place to volunteer and were required in the different disciplines in competition. In return for their work, they receive mobility, food and accident insurance.
Then, the testimony of 10 volunteers who tell how they developed their work in the Panamerican Games Lima 2019, which, according to Copal, will leave the bar high for any other city organizing games of this magnitude (the next event will take place in Santiago de Chile in 2023).
Gabriela Fierro, student: "The image we give of Peru depends on us"
"I wanted to be part of the games. It was a huge challenge for the country and it excited me, "said Gabriela, 23, a sports journalism student. "When you do something you love, some questions such as family or friends are a little put aside. It's a possibility that does not always show up. I do not know when an event of this magnitude will take place in Peru, "he added.
"I'm proud of what I do, as well as the group I have. It is not only me but all of us who are involved in the organization of the event and we are the image of it. Anything negative we do can hurt the country, "says Fierro, who only critically respects the volunteers' attention:" The cold food hit us a bit. The organization notes that they can not place microwaves for reasons of hygiene and that we had to eat frozen food. I have witnessed several "deaths" for stomach problems, but nothing has happened for adults. At night, it's more complicated to eat meat or chicken, they give us coffee or hot drinks, but eating something cold is not nice, "he said. .
Alexa Valverde, student: "Lima 2019 m 'help in my professional development"
"I applied the same day before attending a concert. I left it to chance, it was very funny, I did not give it much importance. My surprise was great when I received the email in which they had me to work. "At 21, this young university is leading 35 volunteers. "My job is a bit more difficult because I have to see the schedules of the boys, coordinate, be attentive to all volunteers have their uniform and perform their duties. "
Despite her youth, Alexa had to demonstrate her authority to follow the guidelines of the 2019 Pan American Games. "I watched photographers very moved. The judge asked me to keep them in their place and told me, "If we have to embarrass them, we are laughing," he says with a big laugh. "I am proud of this work, it helps me in my personal development. Participating in such a great event and helping Peru to leave a good international image is my main motivation, "he concluded.
Joaquín Castañeda, journalist: "I thought to find a disorganized tournament, but it was the opposite"
"I am proud to be part of an event of such magnitude. Listen to the national anthem and see the Peruvian participants doing everything they can to excite me. I think all the volunteers bring our grain of sand so that everything works, "says Joaquin, who had low expectations because of the problems faced by the organization in the face of the progress of the infrastructure and the criticisms of some politicians. "I thought I was going to be disorganized, for all that was going on, with the problem of the delay in building some headquarters and the like. But no. In general, everything went well.
Anecdote, he says that one day he had to climb on a roof to do his job. "One day, I arrived at 8 am and saw colleagues at the door where we had to work together. They could not enter because the keys had remained inside. We had been told that the only solution was to enter by the roof, but nobody wanted to do it. I proposed to do it and I managed to open it. My teammates and my boss congratulated me, "he recalls.
Maria Katia Vidal, journalist: "The important thing is to help leave the name of Peru well"
"I did not care what I was going to do, I just wanted to help make sure everything went well. I think the main thing is to help leave the name of Peru in a good position. I do not know when we'll be holding games like this again, but I'm proud to have been part of it, "the reporter said.
'Maka', as his friends told him, said the volunteers had trouble doing their job. "We had problems with some journalists, even with a lack of respect. I think you must always be a good person. I understand the stress that this type of event can generate, but there must always be respect, these are our guests. Finally, their responsibility lay in being late for the event. "
Javier Saldarriaga, engineer, teacher and entrepreneur: "The idea is to show that Peruvians can do everything"
He is 59 years old, is an industrial engineer, graduated from UNI and is proud to volunteer in Lima in 2019. "He had to be here. I've always loved volunteering, serving and demonstrating to foreign visitors that Peruvians are prepared people. Javier, who is also a language teacher, focuses on why he wanted to volunteer. "I was in World Cup 2014 Brazil and Russia 2018 and I loved the work of volunteers. When I was in Russia, accompanying the national team, I remembered that in Lima would run the Pan American Games and I decided to volunteer. "
For Don Javier, it was a dream to be part of Lima 2019, even though he acknowledged that it was a little exorbitant on the first day. "I remember arriving at the Videna and a lady asked me if Gladys Tejeda had arrived. I told him that I did not know it and suggested I ask for one for safety. At that time, Gladys came with her mother and surrounded by many journalists, "he says with a smile. However, the experience remains and for Javier Saldarriaga it is "a way to serve and help my country, to help improve our international image".
Rodrigo Chunga, student: "It's up to us to leave a good impression"
"I wanted to show a good image of Peru," said the 17-year-old recently graduated from school, who postponed his postulation to study music. voluntary. "Your environment is conducive to work and the athletes thank us every day for the support we give them," he said proudly. "It's up to us to leave a good impression," he adds.
However, he thinks that the organization was more concerned with the volunteers. "I have colleagues who have not been well placed. One of them comes from Ventanilla and must do its work at the headquarters of Villa María del Triunfo. The 10 soles that give him a ticket do not reach them.
Bruno Uceda, journalist: "When I take part in the Pan American Games, I feel like I'm in another country"
"I like sports, I practice football and I like fencing and athletics. As a journalist, I've always imagined covering events related to these sports, "says the press service volunteer. You must prepare the starting order of the athletes and be attentive to the request of the journalists, before, during and after the competition. "I have the impression of being in another country. Being on Videna's premises transports me, "he says, while puffing up with pride for taking part in an event he describes as" the second-largest in the world after the Olympics ".
"I thought the athletes had some sort of rivalry, but it's just the opposite. I have witnessed how they create a bond of brotherhood, friendship and even trust in difficult times. For me, it's a very important teaching. "
Paola Gaxoet, Mexican student: the Aztecs fell in love with Lima and ceviche
"I had previously volunteered to participate in the 2018 World Cup in Russia, but that could not have been given. When I learned about the Lima Games, I did not think about it and I also applied, "recalls the 20-year-old university student in Mexico City, whose mission is almost innate service. : "I had already filled out the application form as the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo and it would be very father to accept me, I would leave everything to fulfill this dream".
She wishes to devote herself to the organization of large-scale events. "Being part of Lima 2019 helps me a lot. I can learn from the way processes are combined to coordinate an event the size of it. "It's a sacrifice, yes, but I'm sure it's worth it," says Paola, with her characteristic Aztec accent, and says the food has helped her feel at home. "A friend took me to the Jesus Maria market for lunch and now that I know that I have come back several times, even alone, I am no longer afraid to move about in the city. city.
Patricia Blair, Peruvian living in Canada: "I volunteered in Toronto in 2015 and I had to be in Lima in 2019"
He resides in Mississauga, west of Toronto, Ontario and his story deserves to be applauded. She ran to volunteer, but the family problems and insecurity prevailing in our city almost forced her to stop participating. "One Sunday, I received the call from the organizing committee and felt that they needed volunteers. Therefore, the following Tuesday, I took the plane to Lima. It was going from one moment to the next. "All this fills me with great emotion, even if I have to make sacrifices," he says, remembering to have left his grandchildren aged 8 and 7 in Canada.
The 46-year-old administrator was not new to volunteering. The Toronto 2015 Games were his first experience and he had a great time. "At the closing ceremony, I had the ingenuity to join the Peruvian delegation and give it a flag. Since they did not have any, they allowed me to accompany them. It was really magical. I took pictures with Gladys Tejeda and Alexandra Grande. They had won gold medals and even, for reasons of fate, I had to be at the headquarters where Alexandra was champion. It was a great emotion, "recalls Ms. Blair, whose work in Toronto was important because very few volunteers spoke good Spanish and most delegations spoke Spanish.
Paola Cerrón Angulo, student: "These are the most productive holidays I've had"
"I volunteered at Neoplastic Hospital, but had to leave because of my studies at the university. So when I heard about Lima 2019, I saw a good opportunity to resume volunteering, "says this 22-year-old girl from Huancayo, Junín. "I thought it would be easier but the work we do is very sacrificed. Despite that, it's worth it and I'm proud of what I'm doing. These are the most productive holidays I've had.
"The experience I'm living will stay a lifetime. It's an amazing feeling when our volunteer day ends, when we are exhausted and as journalists and athletes thank us and congratulate us for the work done. This satisfaction makes all the sacrifices, "he said.
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