Por Sonja Nikcevic, AIPS Media

Toronto, 20 de julio de 2015.- AIPS homenajeó este lunes en Toronto, durante un desayuno especial para la prensa deportiva a un total de 13 periodistas deportivos americanos que han cubierto seis o más Juegos Panamericanos.

Diego Hipólito Méndez Calero y Roberto Pacheco Martínez, ambos de Cuba, fueron distinguidos especialmente, debido a que acumulan 11 y 10 Juegos, respectivamente y pertenecen a la familia deportiva panamericana hace cuarenta años o más.

Estuvieron presentes en el acto varios representantes del deporte americano, como el cinco veces medallista olímpico Charmain Crooks (Canadá), el alcalce de Toronto, John Tory, el presidente del Comité Olímpico Canadiense Marcel Abut y el veterano miembro del Comité Olímpico Internacional, Austin Sealy, de Barbados, que lleva contabilizados nada menos que doce Juegos Panamericanos.

El presidente de AIPS, Gianni Merlo, dijo a propósito del justo homenaje rendido a los periodistas americanos, que «es muy importante reconocer el profesionalismo de los periodistas, porque nuestra profesión no está muerta como algunos dicen. Ella transita en la actualidad un difícil período de transición del cual emergerá más fuerte para proteger nuestra independencia y transparencia”.

La lista de los periodistas homenajeados, los cuales han cubierto los Juegos Panamericanos desde antes de Mexico 1975, es esta:

Diego Hipólito Méndez Calero – CUBA, Radio Rebelde – 11 Juegos

Roberto Pacheco Martinez – CUBA, Radio Rebelde – 10 Juegos

Pablo Socorro – CUBA, AFP – 8 Juegos

Ricardo Luis Perez – ARGENTINA – 7 Juegos

José Anaya Fuentes – CUBA, INDER – 7 Juegos

Claudio Federovsky – ARGENTINA, Radio del Plata – 6 Juegos

Gonzalo Mansilla – ARGENTINA – 6 Juegos

Walter Challapa-Escalante – BOLIVIA, fotógrafo – 6 Juegos

Joao Pedro Nunes – BRAZIL – 6 Juegos

Luis Alberto Izquierdo Valdés – CUBA, Radio Rebelde – 6 Juegos

Raul de Jesús Rodriguez Fernández – CUBA, Radio Habana Cuba – 6 Juegos

Rodolfo Gárcia Lozano – CUBA, Televisión Cubana – 6 Juegos

Enrique Montesinos – CUBA, Granma – 6 Juegos

Víctor Manuel Martínez Escobar – GUATEMALA, Vistazo Deportivo – 6 Juegos

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ENGLISH:

AIPS honors outstanding Pan American journalists in Toronto, sets stage for future Olympic ceremonies

By Sonja Nikcevic, AIPS Media

TORONTO, July 20, 2015 – The International Sports Press Association (AIPS) honored outstanding veteran journalists in a special media breakfast on Monday morning during the 17th Pan American Games in Toronto. A total of 13 journalists who have covered six Pan American Games or more were recognized for their dedication and contribution to the Pan American family in the offices of renowned PR agency Edelman.

Diego Hipólito Méndez Calero and Roberto Pacheco Martinez, both journalists from Cuba’s Radio Rebelde, were specially honored during the event for having covered a remarkable 11 and 10 Pan American Games respectively, thus contributing to the Pan American family for more than 40 years.

This very special event brought together all sides of the sporting stratosphere, with the five-time Olympian and Canadian Olympic medalist Charmain Crooks leading the ceremony, while journalists from across the Americas where honored for their contribution to sports by Toronto mayor John Tory, Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) president Marcel Abut and veteran IOC member from Barbados Austin Sealy, who himself has participated in 12 Pan American Games.

A message of outright optimism for sports journalism was given by the mayor of Toronto, John Tory, a former journalist himself, who was presented with a special AIPS Global Award. «The language of sports is universal, and if there is a group of journalists who has a bright future, it’s sports journalists. People around the world want to read about sports, want to see sports, hear stories about sports of all kinds in all places – and sports is everywhere. So, be optimistic!»

«For every great athlete there is a great journalist recording his success,» highlighted COC President Marcel Abut. «It is an honor to be here among so many journalists, who inform and inspire and who make sports and competitions like the Pan American Games what they are, by bringing the passion to the fans worldwide. Because of your effort, the Americas learn about emerging talent. Because of your effort, they get to know about our athletes and coaches. Our athletes are important but their journey would remain unknown if it was not for the dedicated work of journalists, videographers, photograhpers and storytellers like you,» Abut added in an inspired tribute to gathered journalists.

AIPS President Gianni Merlo said: «I think it is very important to celebrate the professionality of journalism, because our profession is not dead like some say. It is however going through a difficult period of transition , from which it will emerge even stronger in order to protect our independence and transparency.»

The full list of journalists, who have been telling the Pan American story since as early as Mexico City 1975, and who were honored during the ceremony is below:

Diego Hipólito Méndez Calero – CUBA, Radio Rebelde – 11 Games

Roberto Pacheco Martinez – CUBA, Radio Rebelde – 10 Games

Pablo Socorro – CUBA, AFP – 8 Games

Ricardo Luis Perez – ARGENTINA – 7 Games

José Anaya Fuentes – CUBA, INDER – 7 Games

Claudio Federovsky – ARGENTINA, Radio del Plata – 6 Games

Gonzalo Mansilla – ARGENTINA – 6 Games

Walter Challapa-Escalante – BOLIVIA, photographer – 6 Games

Joao Pedro Nunes – BRAZIL – 6 Games

Luis Alberto Izquierdo Valdés – CUBA, Radio Rebelde – 6 Games

Raul de Jesús Rodriguez Fernández – CUBA, Radio Habana Cuba – 6 Games

Rodolfo Gárcia Lozano – CUBA, Televisión Cubana – 6 Games

Enrique Montesinos – CUBA, Granma – 6 Games

Víctor Manuel Martínez Escobar – GUATEMALA, Vistazo Deportivo – 6 Games