The Panamerican Sports Organization (ODEPA) confirmed Santo Domingo will be host city of the 2003 Pan American Games. The confirmation took place yesterday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Dominican government’s sale of the lot diagonally across from the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center where the Olympic Village was to be built caused concern among members of the Pan American Games organization. The DR government sold the site of the Olympic village last February, preferring to build low-rise apartments on a larger eastern Santo Domingo lot instead of 23-floor towers. Making matters more attractive, the new site is about 10 minutes from the Las Americas International Airport, main entry point for those coming for the games. The government also informed the sports organization its decision to build two new sports centers on the eastern side of the city, both less than a 15-minute drive from the Olympic village. The JPD Olympic Center will be at most a 35-minute drive away from the village. The Panamerican Sports Organization required the Dominican government serve as guarantor of the Games. At the Rio meeting, the Dominican government deposited a bail for US$25 million, as well as a letter from President-elect Hipólito Mejía confirming the new government’s commitment to the Games. (24 May 2000)
