Stories: Aracari Team Insights

Live bands, a symphony orchestra, a traditional Inca “Tinkay” ceremony and a spectacular sound and light show are all on the bill for the official Machu Picchu Centenary celebrations which take place at Machu Picchu today to mark 100 years since the ruins were brought to the attention of the world. Celebrating the Machu Picchu Centenary Touted to be viewed by as many as 500 million people worldwide on HDTV, the official event will be attended by dignitaries from foreign countries, celebrities such as Nobel Prizewinning author Mario Vargas Llosa, outgoing Peruvian president Alan Garcia and a whole host of journalists, photographers and travellers from across the World. The events will be rounded off with a light and sound show which aims to recreate Machu Picchu as it would have looked during Inca times. The show will feature around 300 notable artists and musicians, including the Andean Orchestra, Cusco’s Symphony Orchestra and the renowned Peruvian musician and composer Manuel Miranda who is famed for his use of traditional wind instruments. There are also artistic and cultural events taking place in the city of Cusco, where large LCD screens will beam the events at Machu Picchu into the city’s main square. There was a 21 gun salute in the city early this morning to mark the beginning of the day’s proceedings, and celebrations are expected to run into the early hours. You can find out more about the official celebrations on ANDINA (the government's official news agency) and Prom Peru or catch the celebrations, which begin at 10.30am local time, on one of the 15 satellite channels broadcasting the events live internationally. New Wonder of the World Despite Hiram Bingham first coming across the ruins on the 24th of July 1911, the official ceremonies are taking place today firstly because it

  The last time that Peru won the Copa América was in 1975. This was the second of two triumphs that La Blanquirroja - or "The White and Red One", Peru's national soccer team - have seen in the most important international football tournament in Latin America, adding to their first success way back in 1939. Peru Copa America Victory In the Copa América of 1975 Peru beat neighbours Chile, Bolivia and Brazil on their way to meeting Colombia in the final. After losing out in the first tie in Bogota they beat the Colombians in Lima before ultimately winning the final playoff match in Caracas, Venezuela. The game was won with a single goal from striker Hugo Sotil, who at that time played for Barcelona in Spain. The victory came during a golden era for Peruvian Soccer. Featuring such stars as Sotil and the master Teófilo Cubilas, the team performed very well in two of the decade's FIFA World Cups: they ultimately  lost out to Champions Brazil after playing strongly to reach the quarter finals of the 1970 World Cup. In 1978 they tied against eventual finalists the Netherlands while beating Scotland and Iran on their way to topping their group in the first round. Peru Copa America 2011 Peru will feature in 2011’s edition of the Copa América, which kicks off this evening in Argentina, and they face tough competition in the first round against group rivals Chile, Uruguay and Mexico. Their devoted fans will nevertheless be eager for them to progress the next round after a disappointing qualifying campaign for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa ... they finished a lowly bottom out of 10 nations in the South American qualification pool winning just three games out of 18. Peru kick off the tournament against Uruguay