Five para athletes —who will represent Peru at
— participated in the first day of the Torch Relay that passed through Santiago de Surco, Surquillo, and San Borja Districts.
In this sense, para badminton players Jesus Salva and Pablo Cueto, para taekwondo fighter Carlos Navarro, as well as goalball representatives Diana Flores and Jorge Perez carried the torch.
Likewise, Cueto expressed his surprise at the quantity of people who joined them on the streets.
Furthermore, Navarro noted the fact that —although para sports and para athletes are not very popular in the Inca country— many people supported and cheered them on.
"I think the
Parapan American Games are a door that is opening for people with disabilities, who might not be aware and do not know they have another opportunity to move forward," he stated.
On their part, Flores and Perez affirmed the Torch Relay will not be something temporary, but a permanent mark in society, in terms of respect for disabled people.
(END) NDP/JSO/ISG/DTK/MVB