A high level team returned from Saturday?s meeting in Colorado Springs with an amber light for the Pan Am Games. Cesar Cede?o, the Minister of Sports and Physical Education, Miguel Vargas, Minister of Public Works, Jose Joaquin Puello, head of the Dominican Olympic Committee, and Mario Vasquez Ra?a, head of the Organizing Committee for the Pan Am Games, were successful in convincing the Pan Am Central Committee to eliminate the DR obligation to post a US$25 million bond. Nevertheless, the support that will need to be finally contributed by the DR to sustain the year 2003 games is so far based on verbal promises and assurances, rather than solid appropriations. Within the next 90 days, the country will need to provide the Pan Am Central Committee with evidence that it has appropriated funds, and actually, begun work on the renovation of the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Park. It must also actually commence construction of the Sports Village that will house the thousands of athletes, trainers, and managers who will descend on Santo Domingo. In addition, organizers need to firm up the US$140 million loan from Spain?s Banco Bilbao, the US$26.8 million from the Venezuela Investment Fund, and the commitment of President Hipolito Mejia to provide DR$350 million.
