Billions of pesos are being invested in both new and existing sports venues in preparation for the 25th Central American and Caribbean Games. Scheduled for 24 July to 8 August 2026, the Games will take place in Santo Domingo, with additional venues in the central provinces of Santiago and Monseñor Nouel, the northern province of Puerto Plata, and the eastern provinces of La Romana and La Altagracia (Punta Cana).
According to the Diario Libre, the Abinader administration is allocating over RD$3.79 billion to modernize and construct sports facilities throughout Santo Domingo. The opening ceremony will be held at the Félix Sánchez Olympic Stadium in the capital city. Most of the 40 sports included in the Games will be hosted at the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center and Parque del Este, both located in Greater Santo Domingo.
In addition to upgrades in the capital, significant investments are being made in the eastern Santo Domingo area at Parque del Este, originally built for the 2003 Pan American Games. Events will also be held in Santiago (football and cycling), Punta Cana (golf), Monseñor Nouel (canoeing and rowing), and Cabarete, Puerto Plata (surfing).
The renovations and construction projects are being overseen by the Ministry of Housing and Edifications (Mived), under the direction of Minister Carlos Bonilla. According to José P. Monegro, president of the Games Organizing Committee, Mived is currently working several months ahead of schedule.
Diario Libre reports that 15 venues are undergoing major renovations, primarily focused on two large sports complexes: the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center and Parque del Este. The Olympic Center was previously used for the 12th Central American and Caribbean Games in 1974, while Parque del Este hosted several events during the 2003 Pan American Games.
The Olympic Center is receiving the bulk of the investment, with RD$2.86 billion allocated, while Parque del Este is set to receive RD$930 million. These figures were obtained by Diario Libre through the Office of Free Access to Information.
Among the various renovations, only one facility will be built from scratch: the Taekwondo Pavilion at the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center. This new, state-of-the-art venue will span 4,288.94 square meters and include a warm-up area and three competition zones, each with its own tatami mats. During the Games, it will host all contact sports, and afterward, it will function as a dedicated taekwondo facility.
The largest single investment among the renovations is directed at the Juan Pablo Duarte Aquatics Center, which will host swimming competitions. This facility is receiving RD$785 million.
The government officially delivered the archery range at Parque del Este on 15 June 2025 and on 1 July, the renovated Fencing Pavilio at the JPD Olympic Center, in ceremonies led by Vice President Raquel Peña, Housing Minister Carlos Bonilla and Sports Minister Kelvin Cruz.
The initial estimated budget for hosting the Games, when Santo Domingo secured the bid on 24 November 2021, was US$185 million (approximately RD$10.9 billion). This estimate may fluctuate due to changing prices and unforeseen renovation needs, such as a potential upgrade to the air conditioning system at the Ricardo Arias National Volleyball Palace.
Diario Libre notes that the 15 projects managed by Mived do not include all ongoing work at the Olympic Center and Parque del Este. Facilities such as the velodrome, fencing pavilion, and outdoor tennis courts are being renovated outside of Mived’s direct oversight. Similarly, in the “eastern zone” sports complex, work is being carried out on the shooting pavilion and the main football field. The field hockey stadium had already been refurbished for the 2023 San Salvador Games.
Renovations are also underway at the Palacio de los Deportes and Félix Sánchez Olympic Stadium, but these are being financed by a division of the government bank Banreservas and are not included in the official Games budget. The Olympic Stadium, for example, was recently renovated for the U-17 Women’s World Cup at a cost of RD$1 billion.
The report from Diario Libre does not mention the investment in the skating venue known as Malecon Deportivo, being built on the site of the former Colegio Maharishi. This facility is part of the Paseo Marítimo project on the capital’s Malecón and is co-funded by the central government.
The 2026 Games website lists the following venues:
East:
• Open Water – Santo Domingo and Juan Dolio beaches
• Water Ski – Santo Domingo Yacht Club (Boca Chica)
• Golf – Los Corales Golf Course (Punta Cana)
• Sailing – Santo Domingo Yacht Club (Boca Chica)
North (Bonao, Santiago, Puerto Plata):
• Canoeing – Centro de Remo y Canotaje Presa de Rincón (Monseñor Nouel)
• Rowing – Centro de Remo y Canotaje Presa de Rincón (Monseñor Nouel)
• Surfing – Cabarete Beach (Puerto Plata)
• Cycling MTB – Santiago (La Barranquita)
• Football – Estadio Cibao FC (Santiago)
Metropolitan Area (Santo Domingo):
• Athletics Marathon & Race Walking – Mirador del Sur Park or the Malecón
• 3×3 Basketball – Eugenio María de Hostos Park
• Baseball – Quisqueya Ball Park
• Bowling – Plaza Bolera
• Road Cycling – Mirador del Sur Park
• Equestrian Sports – Palmarejo Equestrian Center
• Netball & Artistic Skating – Club Mauricio Báez
• Speed Skating – Malecon Deportivo
• Skateboarding – Cristo Park
• Squash – Body Shop Club
• Shooting – El Higüero Shooting Facility
• Shotgun Shooting – 16 de Agosto Military Camp
• Triathlon – San Souci
• Beach Volleyball – Fray Antón de Montesinos Monument (Malecón)
Parque del Este (Greater Santo Domingo – East):
• Badminton – Table Tennis Pavilion
• Handball – Handball Pavilion
• Gymnastics – Gymnastics Pavilion
• Weightlifting – Weightlifting Pavilion
• Hockey – Hockey on Grass Stadium
• Road Skating – Road Skating Venue
• Rugby – Football Stadium
• Tennis – Tennis Center
• Table Tennis – Table Tennis Pavilion
• Archery – Archery Field
Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center (National District):
• Opening and Closing Ceremonies – Félix Sánchez Olympic Stadium
• Water Sports (Swimming, Water Ballet, Diving, Polo) – Aquatics Center
• Chess – Chess Federation Pavilion
• Athletics – Félix Sánchez Olympic Stadium
• Basketball & E-Sports – Palacio de los Deportes
• Boxing – Combat Pavilion No. 2
• Cycling BMX Racing – Bicicross Course
• Cycling Track – Velodrome
• Fencing – Fencing Pavilion
• Judo, Karate, Wrestling – Combat Pavilion No. 1
• Modern Pentathlon – Military Venue or JPD Olympic Center
• Racquetball – Racquetball Pavilion
• Softball – JPD Baseball Stadium
• Taekwondo – Combat Pavilion No. 2
• Volleyball – Ricardo Arias Volleyball Palace
Read more:
Diario Libre
Listin Diario
DR1 News
2026 Games
2 July 2025