It was announced yesterday that the Dominican Republic plans on sending a large and high-profile delegation to Panama City this weekend to lobby the Pan American Sports Organization (ODEPA) to pick Santo Domingo as the site for the 2003 Pan American Games. In addition to José Joaquín Puello Herrera, president of the Dominican Olympic Committee (COD), and most of the COD members, confirmed as attending are Sports Minister (and baseball legend) Juan Marichal, Public Works Minister Diandino Peña and Santo Domingo Mayor (and merengue legend) Juan de Dios (Johny) Ventura. Baseball home-run king Sammy Sosa has been invited to join the delegation; as has another Dominican in baseball’s Major Leagues, Moisés Alou. Sosa’s decision whether to go is due to be announced tomorrow. The possibility that the baseball superstar may come to Panama City has ignited considerable excitement in the Panamanian press and public.
