A local group has put together a financial package to underwrite the construction of the Pan American Village. The land for the village has been donated by the Dominican government close to the Las Americas Airport East of Santo Domingo. Some 7,000 athletes, trainers and managers will be lodged there for the duration of the Games, scheduled to be held in 2003. The Pan American Sports Organization (ODEPA) and the Games? organizing committee had previously agreed that the construction of the village would be funded by a US$140 million loan from the Banco de Bilbao. However, the appearance of the local financing has been received with relief by governmental sectors not anxious to further burden the DR with international debts. According to Jose Joaquin Puello, who heads the organizing committee, both ODEPA and the government will need to approve the new plan. Puello, invited to a sports reporters’ luncheon at Listin Diario, admitted that the committee he heads has done a poor job of promoting the Games, which is why many Dominicans oppose them. “We have lost a lot of time,? he said, ?in arguments and responding to diatribes.? According to Puello DR will need to mount tourneys in ?60 or 70? individual sporting events. ?ODEPA does this in the country that hosts the Games in order to evaluate its organizational capacity,? he said.
