The Pan American Games, scheduled to be held in Santo Domingo took a big step closer to reality with the authorization of President Hipolito Mejia to the Sports Ministry to include an additional DR$365 million in the Ministry?s next budget request. The money represents the estimate of the country?s organizational expenditures in support of the Games, which will be held in 2003. Sports Minister Cesar Cede?o made the announcement after emerging from a luncheon hosted by Mejia in the National Palace for the Games? organizing committee. Cede?o also told reporters that Mejia had reiterated his firm support for the Games, and said he would lobby Congress to approve the budgetary allotment. Senate President, Ramon Alburquerque, and Chamber of Deputies Speaker, Rafaela Alburquerque, attended the luncheon. The head of the PAN AM GAMES Organizing Committee, Jose Joaquin Puello, confirmed Cede?o?s characterization of presidential support, and added that Mejia urged the group to work hard in conjunction with the Sports Ministry to assure a series of planning measures that he would be able to support. Puello also said that Mejia would lend his support to the approval of the loan that will fund the construction of the Pan Am Village where the thousands of athletes, trainers and managers will be housed. A date of November 30 had been announced last week by the Sports Ministry, but Puello said that the actual date is in the hands of the Minister of Public Works, ?who will make his own announcement at the proper time.?
