Public Works Minister Miguel Vargas promises the facilities under construction for the Santo Domingo Pan Am Games will be ready in time, and that ?finger-crossing is not necessary?, as reported in the List?n Diario.
But with barely two months to go to the 1 August opening of the Pan American Games, most of the installations that are being renovated or built from scratch are way behind schedule. The government had promised the venues would all be completed by 30 May, but as reported in the Listin Diario, this has not happened.
The newspaper says that of 23 installations, six have been completed, and 17 are still under construction. Those completed are the El Higuero shooting range, the handball pavilion, the wrestling pavillion, a soccer field, hockey field, archery installation. Facilities being renovated and that still have not been completed are the Palacio de los Deportes, Carlos Teo Cruz Colisseum, Quisqueya, Tetelo Vargas and Cibao ball parks, Feria Ganadera, Santo Domingo Yacht Club, Olympic Staadium, velodrome, volleyball pavillions, racquetball courts, swimming, water polo and diving complex, tennis courts, table tennis facility, gymnastics pavillion, weight lifting pavillion, amphitheater, UASD multisport facility, and the equestrian center in El Higuero, soccer court in San Cristobal and Sans Souci shooting center.
The Venezuelan company in charge of the Olympic Stadium has said they will deliver the stadium, where the opening events will take place, on 25 July.
The Listin reports that work has not started on the press center that supposedly will be located at the Liceo Uni?n Panamericano.