Mexican Mario Vasquez Raña, president of the Pan American Sports Organization lashed against the Organizing Committee of the 2003 Pan American Games during a press conference held shortly after his one-hour meeting with President Hipólito Mejía. Vasquez was in Santo Domingo after accepting an invitation from President Hipólito Mejía when the two met in Mexico on occasion of the inaugural of Mexican President Vicente Fox. His visit coincided with the arrival of a high level commission from the Pan American Sports Organization that came to prepare a review on advances towards the preparation of the games. Vasquez spoke controversially. "I am going to say something very important nobody in the world, not only in this continent, nobody wants the Games to be held in the DR. From my position I have fought by all means so that the Games be held here and I will fight so that this is so," he said. Local press have speculated that Vasquez Raña and the local president of the Organizing Committee Jose Joaquin Puello maintain a personal feud over their ambitions in the Olympic movement. Vasquez Raña also backed the hosting of the 2003 Games in Guadalajara, Mexico. Regardless, Vasquez Raña addressed the press with fury in his words when criticizing the organizing committee. "There is no definite plan, there always are changes and that it is not good to commit to something and then not come through with it," he said. News reports say when he spoke he had not read the latest update on the Games organization. He said that 25 months after the country had obtained the site, the country is at the same point as it was when it won the seat. He said that the organizing committee has been saying many lies. "The lies have been in the form of presenting one day a plan, another day another, and another day the other and we sign agreements the sad thing is that we sign and it’s another lie" One of the differences between what has been said and the reality is the cost of the Pan Am Games. The president of the Pan American Sports Organization, Mario Vasquez Raña told the Dominican press that the sports games will cost around US$140 million, or more than RD$2,300 million. The president of the Organizing Committee, Jose Joaquin Puello has emphasized that they will not cost a cent over RD$1,500 million. Both Vasquez and Puello’s figures do not include the cost of the athletes’ village, which is estimated at another RD$1,000 million. Furthermore, Vasquez told the local press that it is not true that the games will leave a profit for the country. He said that the Winnipeg, Canada games did not leave a profit, contrary to what has been said locally. Vasquez stressed, "The Games can bring many good and positive things, but if they are not carried out successfully, then they can be counterproductive," he said. "That is why I struggle so that they be transparent, that things go well, that the least is spent." Jose Joaquin Puello, president of the local organizing committee said, "I do not take it personally There have been many obstacles to overcome." He said that the organizing committee has proven to the visiting PASO commission that the country is not behind in preparations as has been said. The organization of the Games is contingent on government support. The Games were also affected by Hurricane Georges in 1998 and the presidential election of 2000. The final decision regarding the games being held in the DR will be taken on 19 January in Panama City, when the 42 members national olympic committees member of the organization meet to deliberate on whether the DR keeps the seat or not. President Mejía, a strong supporter of the holding of the Games in Santo Domingo, is taking things philosophically. "The assembly is sovereign and Mario (Vasquez Raña) and myself will accept the decision of the members of the assembly," said President Mejía.
