Minister of Public Works Miguel Vargas Maldonado announced the start next week of the construction of the Mirador del Este Pan American sports games installations. He said they are just awaiting authorization to pay builders RD$57 million to start the works. Former President Joaquin Balaguer’s opposition has delayed the start of construction. Balaguer, builder of the park, fears the construction of the sports facilities would mean the end of the park as an important city green area. Advocates of the project say that on the contrary, it would bring major improvements to the area. The Mirador del Este sports complex would include tennis, basketball and volleyball courts, facilities for weight lifting, hockey, handball, table tennis, badminton, gymnastics and archery spread throughout the extension of the park. See http://www.listin.com.do/deporte/deporte.html (6 July Listin Diario online issue) Pan American Games Organizing Committee president, Jose Joaquin Puello also announced that one of twelve blocks of apartments for the Pan American athletes village would be finished in time for the visit of the members of the Pan American Sports Organization on 12 August. The members are coming to observe advances made to prepare for the July 2003 games in Santo Domingo. Puello forecast the start in 72 hours of the construction of sports venues at the Mirador del Este Park.
