The visiting mission of the Panamerican Olympic Organization concluded that Santo Domingo has all necessary to organize the Pan American Sports Games in year 2003. The presidents of the Olympic Committees of Uruguay, Honduras and Cuba, Julio Cesar Maglione, Julio Villalta and José Ramón Fernández, respectively were in Santo Domingo last week to evaluate the city of Santo Domingo as a possible site. The trio needs to prepare a report on sports facilities, security issues and governmental and population support of the contending cities – Medellín, Colombia; Guadalajara, Mexico and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic – for the Games for Mario Vásquez Raña, president of the Panamerican Sports Organization. Minister of Sports Juan Marichal and Minister of Public Works Diandino Peña accompanied them to tour the sports facilities available in Santo Domingo. During the visit, the president of the Cuban Olympic Committee, José Ramón Fernández told the Dominican press that the organization of the Sports Games should cost US$120 million to US$140 million. The President of the Domincan Olympic Committee had estimated the Games to cost under US$50 million. Dr. José Joaquín Puello said the DR is preparing to host the 42 presidents of regional olympic committees prior to their voting to choose the site on 5 December in Panama.
