By Andre Huie
The 2019 Pan Am Games in Lima Peru opened in fine style on Friday July 26, at the Estadio Nacional del Perú in Lima. Thousands of Peruvians witnessed the colourful display bursting with national pride as the host nation for the Pan Am Games declared to the world that they are ready to play. Starting promptly at 7pm Peru time, the ceremony utilized the main field of the stadium as the primary area used for cultural displays showcasing the past, present and future of Peru, while paying homage to the ancestral treasures that make this South American nation special.
In the back drop was a display of a mountain which showed colourful displays of Peruvian rich heritage and that of the countries on display in the Nations Parade. Athletes and delegates of forty-one countries of the Americas marched onto the field with their flags to cheers from the vociferous Peruvians fans who cheered loudly all night. St. Kitts and Nevis received a warm welcome as well, as the four athletes: Shenel Crooke, Jason Rogers, Jermaine Francis and Reanda Richards marched out proudly in their black and red sweat tops decked with the National Flag of St. Kitts and Nevis and the Olympic emblem and black sweat pants. High jumper and first time at the Pan American Games Jermaine Francis was given the distinct pleasure of carrying the national flag.
He did so with pride and gusto, dancing to the beat of the music and bringing an exciting energy to the St. Kitts and Nevis team. They were accompanied by Chef de Mission Lester Hanley and Coach Lonzo Wilkinson. The largest delegation by far, was the home country Peru, easily topping the Canadian and USA delegation, which up to that point in the parade comprised the largest. Peru’s athletes came out last wearing dapper dark blue blazers and khaki-coloured pants to wild cheers, claps from thunder sticks and waving of red and white national flags from the enthusiastic fans. It was a welcome deserving of the home team.
Later, on a cold, but celebrative Peruvian night, the ceremony climaxed with the lighting of the cauldron by Cecilia Tait, a Seoul 1988 Olympic volleyball silver medalist. The cauldron is shaped like an Incan sun, paying homage to the Incan civilization, one of the ancestral treasures of Peru. The night ended with an excellent and entertaining performance from Latin sensation Luis Fonsi who performed hit after hit including the massive hit Despacito.
St. Kitts and Nevis will be competing primarily in athletics in the coming days. Reanda Richards is a 400m hurdler, Shenel Crooke will compete in the women’s 100m, Jason Rogers in the men’s 100m and Jermaine Francis in the high jump.
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