President Luis Abinader has declared that the Dominican Republic is set to “make history” by hosting the XXV Central American and Caribbean Games in 2026, which is shaping up to be the largest sporting event in the region’s history. The Games are expected to draw over 6,000 athletes competing for a record 3,244 medals.
Meanwhile, Sports Minister Kelvin Cruz announced that the government is investing more than RD$5 billion (approximately US$85 million) in sports infrastructure nationwide to prepare for the event.
Speaking at the fencing pavilion of the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center, where the weekly “LA Semanal con la Prensa” press conference was moved, President Abinader detailed the significant progress being made.
In a move aimed at bolstering the performance of Dominican athletes, the government made a historic contribution of RD$315 million through the Dominican Olympic Committee for training, competitive exposure, and coaching salaries. Furthermore, the stipend for high-performance athletes under the PARNI program has been doubled by 100%.
The Games, scheduled to run from 24 July to 8 August 2026, will feature 40 sports, 57 disciplines, and 63 modalities across eight host cities—including Santo Domingo, Santiago, and smaller hubs like Punta Cana and Cabarete. The initiative is also designed to promote inclusion, national unity, and community integration.
Progress on the venues is advancing rapidly, with officials expecting nearly 90% of the facilities—including the flagship Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center and Parque del Este, in Greater Santo Domingo, to be completed by December 2025.
Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center: The fencing pavilion is complete (RD$59.1 million investment). Volleyball Pavilions I and II are near completion at 75% and 95% respectively. Baseball stadiums, softball fields, the combat pavilion, and the aquatic center are currently under renovation.
Parque del Este: The archery pavilion has been delivered (RD$45.5 million investment). Significant progress is also being made on the weightlifting (95%), gymnastics (66%), and table tennis (57.83%) pavilions, with the handball pavilion and skating rink still in process.
Athletic lodging will be at a 150 eight-apartment buildings located near the Ciudad Juan Bosch in eastern Santo Domingo. Once the games are over, the apartments will transition into low-cost housing.
For the 25th sports games, a comprehensive health and emergency system will be in place, featuring 50 ground ambulances, six rescue boats, air ambulances, a modern polyclinic in the Village, and a major reference center at the Luis Eduardo Aybar Health City. A specialized TRAE transportation system will ensure safe and efficient transfers for all participants.
To mark the 100th anniversary of the Games, a temporary Centennial Museum will be established in Santo Domingo for three months. It will showcase the Games’ history from 1926 to the present, with the Central American and Caribbean Flame as its centerpiece.
The official mascot, Colí, is inspired by the barrancolí (Hispaniolan Tody), an endemic bird, symbolizing Caribbean authenticity, resilience, and hospitality, while underscoring a commitment to local culture and sustainability.
Read more in Spanish:
La Semanal 13 October 2025
Presidency
Hoy
14 October 2025