The National Paralympic Association of Peru (ANPP) received an accessible van from Worldwide Paralympic Partner Toyota after signing a landmark agreement, which also saw Para athletes Pedro Pablo de Vinatea and Carlos Felipa confirmed as Toyota Ambassadors.

De Vinatea has been a driving force behind the development of Para badminton in Peru. He has won multiple World Championships medals and Pan American titles in the sport. In 2013, he was named Peruvian Para Athlete of the Year.

Soldier Felipa, who lost his left leg in battle, was part of the Peruvian athletics team competing at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, competing in the men’s 100m and long jump T42.

ANPP President Lucha Villar and Toyota Peru representative Yehude Simon Valcarcel made the announcement at a press conference in Lima.

Villar said: “This is the first agreement of this type that the ANPP has done in its history; we are achieving something very important.”

Para badminton and goalball exhibitions were held at La Videna National Sports Complex following the announcement. Journalists and Toyota employees had the opportunity to try these two sports with the help of Peru’s national team members.

La Videna will be the main competition centre during the 2019 Parapan American Games set to take place in Lima between 23 August and 1 September.

Para badminton will be making its Parapan American debut, while goalball will appear in the sports programme for a third consecutive time.

Lima 2019 will feature a record 1,850 athletes who will compete in 17 sports, two more than Toronto 2015, overtaking the latter as the biggest Parapan American Games ever.