Peruvian Olympic Committee president Renzo Manyari opened the 64th Panam Sports General Assembly in Lima on Thursday alongside Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori.
The sports summit in the Peruvian capital brought together leaders from National Olympic Committees across the Americas during Panam Week as part of preparations for the Lima 2027 Pan American Games.
International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry and Panam Sports president Neven Ilic attended the opening ceremony. They were joined by International Olympic Committee member for Peru Cecilia Tait and Peruvian Olympic Committee secretary general Maria Martinez Murciego.
During the opening session, Panam Sports presented a special recognition to Tait, a silver medalist with the Peruvian women's volleyball team at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul. The assembly also paid tribute to all Peruvian Olympic medalists throughout history.
Assembly addresses unity and upcoming events
In his opening address, Manyari welcomed visiting sports executives and said his message rested on gratitude and hope. He noted that Peru faces three historic events, citing the El Nino global climate phenomenon, an upcoming papal visit, and the 2027 Pan American Games.
Manyari explained that the International Olympic Committee is working to assist with climate challenges posed by El Nino. He publicly thanked the Peruvian national government and local authorities for their tireless efforts to help the country serve the Olympic movement and host a major sporting event that allows future generations to feel proud of being heirs to more than 5,000 years of history.
Manyari also thanked the United States Olympic Committee for its work during Panam Week, saying the organization provided valuable tools for regional Olympic committees. He added that the single word unity summarized the entire week of sports meetings in Lima.
Background on Panam Sports and Lima 2027
Panam Sports, officially known as the Pan American Sports Organisation, is the governing body for 41 National Olympic Committees in North America, South America, Central America and the Caribbean. The organization oversees the Pan American Games, a quadrennial multi-sport event bringing together thousands of athletes from across the Western Hemisphere.
Lima previously hosted the Pan American Games in 2019 and was awarded the 2027 event after rights were reassigned. The capital city of Peru has built significant sports infrastructure in recent years to host international competitions.
Closing message on community and culture
Concluding his speech, Manyari shared a message of hope by paraphrasing the pope, saying that individual talent matters little if people fail to live in community and unity. He stressed that life is not meant for individual distinction, but for walking together and living for others.
Manyari said solidarity and unity define the core mission of the Peruvian Olympic Committee. He closed by welcoming international delegates to Peru, inviting them to experience the country's rich culture and heritage.
