The organising committee for the 2019 Pan American and Parapan American Games in Lima has agreed a hosting deal for the multi-sport event’s football competitions that will see it commit PEN47m (€12m/$14.6m) to redeveloping a stadium in the Peruvian capital.
The oldest university in the Americas, the public National University of San Marcos, will host women’s and men’s football for Lima 2019.
Under the terms of the agreement, Lima 2019 will fully refurbish the university stadium with seats for 32,000 spectators, a new athletics track and upgraded accessibility standards.
The stadium, which is located between the districts of Lima and Callao on the west side of the capital, will also be fitted with a brand-new football pitch and training facilities, all of which will meet the highest international standards required by competitions operated by world football’s governing body, Fifa.
Lima 2019 president Carlos Neuhaus (left of picture) said: “San Marcos is the oldest university in the Americas, and will soon be home to a world-class stadium capable of hosting a variety of international competitions. Legacy has been front and centre of our planning so we are particularly pleased by this agreement, which will benefit one of the continent’s top public universities, its 35,000 students and the surrounding community.”
National University of San Marcos rector, Orestes Cachay (right of picture), added: “This is a unique opportunity to grow our institution. San Marcos will be on display to the world and 350 million people will see our university. We are grateful for the gesture towards the San Marcos community and in addition, we are putting our 35,000 students at the disposal of Lima 2019 to work as volunteers for the Games.”
The cost of the redevelopment falls under the Lima 2019 infrastructure budget and the project is scheduled to begin next month.
