The journey to the 2027 Pan American Games starts this week with one of the biggest stars in sports. Gymnastics legend Simone Biles will visit Peru for the first time as Lima begins the one-year countdown to the Games.

Biles, who has won seven Olympic gold medals, will also serve as the global ambassador for Lima 2027. Juliet Nottingham reported on the Olympics Official website that Biles will lead the countdown celebration at Lima's famous Plaza Mayor on August 6.

The event will include local food, music, and a grand finale. It will mark one year until the Games welcome thousands of athletes from across the Americas.

“I’m so excited to visit Peru for the first time to celebrate the start of the one-year countdown to the 2027 Pan American Games in Lima," Biles said, speaking in the official press release cited by the Olympics Official Website.

She invited fans to join the countdown celebration, highlighting unity, togetherness and the shared excitement ahead of Lima 2027.

“I can’t wait to see you all at Lima’s Plaza Mayor on August 6 for an unforgettable celebration of sports unity and the spirit of the Americas. Let’s make history together and kick off the journey to Lima 2027 in an unforgettable way," she added.

The organizers chose Simone Biles as the global ambassador to build excitement before the Opening Ceremony. The last time the Pan American Games were held in Santiago in 2023, there were 11 athlete ambassadors including Rebeca Andrade, Anderson Peters, and Mijain Lopez, among others.

Lima 2027 will begin on July 23, 2027, and the competitions will last for 16 days. More than 7,000 athletes will compete in 38 sports as compared to 6,700 athletes the last time Lima hosted the event in 2019. This makes Lima 2027 an important event on the international sports calendar.

Lima 2027 to build on 2019 legacy as Olympic qualification stakes rise

The Olympics Official website says the one-year countdown aims to bring fans from across the Americas together before the Games. Some events at Lima 2027 will also help athletes qualify for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

Lima will host the Pan American Games for the second time, following the 2019 event. Peru won the right to host the 2027 Games in March 2024 after beating Asuncion in the host city vote. Barranquilla lost its hosting rights before the vote, as reported on the official Panam Sports website.

Athletes from 41 countries will take part in the Games. The National Stadium of Peru will be the main venue. The official slogan is "Together We Shine Brighter" ("Juntos brillamos más").

As the Games get closer, many people will watch Lima. They want to see if the city can host another successful multi-sport event.

Will Simone Biles' first visit to Peru bring even more excitement for the 2027 Pan American Games? Let us know in the comments. 

Read more at Gymnastics Digest.

Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Kapil Manghnani brings over 4.5 years of experience in sports journalism, covering a wide range of sports, including Soccer, NHL, Tennis, Gymnastics, NASCAR, Swimming, and more. He has written for leading sports platforms, producing everything from breaking news and features to in-depth analysis, opinion pieces, long-form stories, and short-form content. Beyond articles, he has also scripted long-form storytelling videos for YouTube channels. His work focuses on delivering well-researched, engaging, and reader-first sports content across multiple formats.

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Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar