Progress is being made on the preparations of the venues and people that will be directly involved in the 25th Central American and Caribbean Games to be held in Santo Domingo from 24 to 8 July 2026. The first time the regional games were held here was in 1974 for the 12th edition. For that occasion, the then Balaguer administration built the country’s first major sports center, the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center.
These are the same installations that now are undergoing a major revamping and modernization. The 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games are being used to renovate all the sports facilities in the capital city. This is expected to turn Santo Domingo into a strong competitor for international sports events in the future.
The Dominican Republic is already becoming a major sports tourism city and the capital city has always been a somewhat popular destination. The city does not have beaches, but it has the historical Colonial City, and the best gastronomy and shopping in the region. More sports events were not held here in the capital city because most sports venues had not been kept in good shape after the Pan Am Games of 2003.
Danilo Diaz, who was minister of sports during the last Danilo Medina administration, expressed his satisfaction with the advances of the preparation in a recent meeting.
The Central American and Caribbean Games scheduled for 2026 in the Dominican Republic are progressing well, according to the international organizing committee. In January 2025, teams from the Central American and Caribbean Games organization had come to observe the progress and also commended the local organizers for their advances and plans for summer 2026.
José P. Monegro, president of the Organizing Committee for the XXV Central American and Caribbean Games in 2026, and Olfanny Méndez, president of the Permanent Sports Commission of the Chamber of Deputies, led a recent meeting with legislators where an update on the event’s preparations to the representatives of the Chamber of Deputies. Monegro is on a constant tour to communicate the progress of the organization to get all the Dominican people and institutions involved.
The Permanent Sports Commission of the Chamber of Deputies supported the implementation plans presented by the Organizing Committee for the Santo Domingo 2026 Games. During the meeting, Olfanny Méndez praised the initiatives and the legacy the event will leave, scheduled for summer 2026.
PLD deputy Danilo Díaz, the former sports minister and experienced participant in past Central American and Pan American Games, expressed his confidence that the 2026 Organizing Committee will meet all the requirements for this major event. He highlighted the committee’s experienced and technically skilled human capital, ensuring a smooth execution of the games.
The president of the organizing committee, Jose Monegro emphasized the significance of multi-sport events in national development, referencing past successes like the 1974 Central American and Caribbean Games and the 2003 Pan American Games. He stressed that the legacy of such games benefits the entire nation and expressed a commitment to providing top-notch facilities for over 6,000 athletes expected to compete in the regional games. The 1986 Central American Games in Santiago also left the second largest city in the country with numerous venues that are still used today.
Monegro appealed to institutions and citizens to participate in the event’s organization, underscoring it as a shared responsibility among all Dominicans.
Read more in Spanish:
El Nacional
20 March 2025