President Mejía authorized a RD$365 million allotment for the organization of the 2003 Pan American Games in the 2001 National Budget. This would be a first of a series of annual payments in order to fund the preparation of the most important regional sports event. The President also approved that a local company with local financing build the athletes’ village. Originally a Spanish company would have built the village with financing from a Spanish bank. The village will go up near the Santo Domingo Cyberpark, which is a short distance from the Las Americas International Airport. Dr. José Joaquín Puello spoke at the meeting highlighting President Mejía’s full support to the event.
