Dr. Alonso Pahuacho Portella
Lecturer at the Department of Communication of Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, in Lima. His research focuses on sports journalism, sport policy and popular culture. He published in 2019, the book Football, Culture, and Society(Hipocampo Editores).
Email: apahuacho@pucp.pe
Twitter: @pahuacho88
As in many South American countries, football is the dominant sport in Peru. Every four years, Peruvians come together with the hope of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup, in what sociologist Noelia Chávez calls the “unifying myth.” In recent years, Peruvian football has had notable moments, such as qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia and participating in the playoff for Qatar 2022. However, this intense focus on football has had a downside: it has overshadowed other sports that, ironically, have brought more Olympic success to Peru. The country has won three medals in shooting (one gold and two silvers) and one in women’s volleyball(a silver), achievements that, although significant, have not captured the same media or public attention as football.
This dominance began to be challenged in 2019 when Lima was chosen to host the Pan American Games. This event allowed Peruvians to discover and appreciate less familiar sports, such as BMX cycling, judo, or squash. It was a revealing moment when hundreds of Peruvians gathered in streets and markets to follow the competitions in disciplines like surfing and long-distance running, where Peru has had recent successes. The hope is that this interest will be revived when Lima once again hosts the Pan American Games in 2027.
The seed of interest in sports other than football began to germinate in 2019 and flourished during Paris 2024. During these Olympic Games, Peruvians closely followed the performances of their athletes, whether early in the morning, during work hours, or over the weekend. Although the Peruvian delegation was small, expectations were high, especially after a 32-year wait since the last Olympic medal in Barcelona 1992.
The television coverage of the Olympic Games in Peru was handled by ATV (channel 9), which broadcast the competitions in a fragmented manner, interrupting its regular programming only when a Peruvian athlete was competing. On weekends, other disciplines were broadcast, even if no Peruvians were involved. This coverage exposed the lack of professionalism and preparation among the sports commentators. Unlike in other countries, where sports journalism is taken more seriously, ATV’s coverage was managed by a panel of five young commentators who, despite their best efforts, were not experts in the disciplines they were covering, such as sailing, shooting, race-walking, or surfing.
The difference in the quality of coverage was notable when compared to Claro Sport, a Mexican channel that broadcasted most of the sports live through its four YouTube channels for the entire Latin American region. Each journalist was accompanied by an expert in the discipline, often a well-known former athlete. For example, for the surfing competition, Claro Sport enlisted the Peruvian two-time world champion, Sofía Mulanovich. Personally, I chose to follow the coverage of the Olympics through Claro Sport due to the depth and knowledge provided by their commentators.
As the days passed, Peruvian athletes advanced in their competitions, but the much-anticipated medal remained elusive. However, several Olympic diplomas were achieved in race-walking, sailing, men’s surfing, shooting, and mixed relay race-walking. Finally, in a competition marked by highs and lows, with races canceled due to bad weather and perhaps a bit of luck—wouldn’t Roger Caillois say that alea always has a role in sports?—sailor Stefano Peschiera managed to secure third place in the dinghy sailing event, ending a 32-year Olympic medal drought for Peru.
As I write these lines, Peschiera is being awarded the Laureles Deportivos, the highest honor a Peruvian athlete can receive from the Peruvian State, and his name will be immortalized on the front of the Estadio Nacional, in Lima. This achievement, beyond breaking a medal drought, represents a milestone that could serve as a powerful incentive to promote and popularize other sports in a country where football overwhelmingly dominates the sports landscape.
However, for this to happen, solid and well-structured sports policies are necessary, something that unfortunately is still in an embryonic stage in Peru. The lack of a state vision that considers sports as a fundamental need, beyond football, prevents disciplines like sailing, surfing, or shooting from achieving the development and popularity they deserve. It is crucial that Peschiera’s success is not only seen as an individual triumph but also as a catalyst for establishing policies that promote sports in their diversity, thereby strengthening the national sports framework.
With a strategic approach that includes infrastructure, financing, and the promotion of various sports disciplines, Peru could begin to see a change in its sports landscape. Not only to generate more medals but to build a more inclusive and diverse sports culture that inspires future generations to explore and excel in sports beyond football.
