2003News

Pan Am Games update

Hoy newspaper reports today that the president of the organizing committee, Dr. Jose Joaqu?n Puello, says that the Games will cost RD$2.8 billion, with the depreciation of the peso having had a major effect on the cost of the games. Puello said that the committee expects to receive RD$54 million in ticketing and marketing commissions. He told Hoy newspaper that they had planned on the support of RNN, a Baninter Group TV company, but that, given the scandal that has affected the bank, they would have to work with other media companies instead. Puello said that the government has invested RD$900 million to organize the event, and another RD$900 million to build the facilities.
The Games open on 1 August at the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Stadium, built in 1974 for the Central American & Caribbean Games, and renovated for the Pan Am Games. The stadium has capacity for 35,000. The Venezuelan company that is responsible for the renovations has promised the facility for 25 July.