President Hipólito Mejía met for almost an hour and a half with Mario Vásquez Raña, president of the Pan American Sports Organization in Mexico yesterday. Vásquez Raña expressed his concern for the delays given the difficult logistics. Mejía got first hand information from Vásquez Raña on what the latter considers are the main challenges ahead for Santo Domingo hosting the most important regional sports games in 2003. The DR is behind in the timetable for the organization of the Pan American Sports Games of 2003. Reporters covering the President’s trip to Mexico said that the two reviewed advances made by the government and the challenges ahead. Minister of Public Works Miguel Vargas accompanied the statesman. The president of the Dominican Olympic Committee and 2003 Pan American Games Organizing Committee, Dr. José Joaquín Puello was not present. Sectors in the DR have opposed the Pan Am Games on grounds that sports policy in the DR has traditionally been based on the building of costly sports installations and not on the preparation of athletes. Advocates of the 2003 Games say the athletes will benefit from the first rate venues and programs to be put into place to train Dominican athletes for the event. Those against the Games point to the millions that have been spent in the construction of subsequently abandoned sports installations. President Mejía had traveled to Mexico to attend the inauguration of President Vicente Fox. Mejía told reporters afterward meeting with Vásquez Raña that he could not guarantee the DR would host the games. "No, I cannot give any kind of guarantee, but the Games are a go, because we have made a commitment, but the truth is that the arguments that he (Vásquez Raña) puts forth are true," said Mejía, in a strange way saying yes and no to the Games.
