President Mejia said in El Siglo that many that oppose the Games are experts in doing nothing. He said he backs the celebration of the Games in Santo Domingo in July 2003. "Yes, yes they can be held here, I believe they can, we have accepted more difficult challenges than that," he told the newspaper. President Mejía referred to fellow PRD party member, Jesus de la Rosa, a former Minister of Sports that has been the most vehement opponent of the games being held in Santo Domingo. "There is a group of Dominicans, and I believe he is in that group that always thing that nothing can be done and that they are difficult tasks. The typical theorists that I believe suffer from a disease known as pathology of ineptitude," said Mejía. Advocates of the Pan Am Games say they will do for Santo Domingo in 2003 what the celebration of the Central American and Caribbean Games did in 1974. That is, boost a new takeoff of sports. They say this will be an investment in the youth of the country. Opponents on the other hand point to the thousands of millions the government has invested in sports venues throughout the years that have only benefited a small group of contractors and government associates. Most of these facilities have been abandoned and sports are at an all time low in the DR. Others say that the moneys could be put to better use.
