Mario Vasquez Ra?a, president of the Pan American Sports Organization, has said that he is ?satisfied? with the progress of preparations for the Pan American Games in Santo Domingo this August. The Mexican official has recently been critical of the delays in construction and refurbishments of the installations. After arriving in Santo Domingo and surveying the status of the venues, he said, ?All is well. That gives me a lot of peace of mind and satisfaction. We have fought hard, because we have had four years of worry.? Vasquez Ra?a also expressed confidence in the standards of the facilities with the comment that ?the Games to be launched on 1 August will have Olympic-standard installations.?
The cafeteria at the Pan Am village has been completed. The facility has a capacity of 2,000 at one time.
List?n Diario newspaper is enthusiastic in its description of the accommodation facilities, calling it ?a majestic village.? The complex will provide employment for 1,200, not including construction and security personnel. The ?Pan American Terminal? at Las Americas International airport is also ready to receive the 9,000+ athletes and officials due to arrive in the country for the Games.
In other news, it has been announced that Luis Polonia, Jos? Offerman, Dionis C?sar, Ram?n Espinosa, F?lix Mart?nez, Juan Tito Bell, Dario P?rez, Yorkis P?rez, Melquiades Rojas, Dario Veras and Jos? Caf? Herrera will comprise the Dominican baseball team at the Games.
President Hip?lito Mej?a will inaugurate the remodeled Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic stadium next Tuesday. The complex will be the central venue of the Pan American Games and has been undergoing a major overhaul.
The handball, archery, weightlifting, soccer, hockey, tennis, table tennis and gymnastics facilities at Parque del Este are reported to be ready for inauguration on Monday, according to List?n Diario?s sports section.
Padre Rogelio Cruz has responded to Games organizer Jos? Joaqu?n Puello?s call for popular protests to be suspended during the Games. The controversial community leader said that peaceful protests aimed at securing a better life for Dominicans would continue during the 17-day duration of the Pan Am Games.
Meanwhile, with only 14 days until the opening, the Organizing Committee has yet to announce where the tickets will be sold and how much they will cost. While prices were posted last month, soon after the government announced there would be price reductions.