President Hipólito Mejía said that the Santo Domingo 2003 Pan Am Games are not a national priority. But the President said he had given his word and would deliver. He spoke when interviewed while attending a horse race competition at the V Centenario Race Track on Saturday. The Mejía government recently advanced US$25 million as a guarantee that Santo Domingo would host the games. Mejía said that the government is counting on a soft loan from a Spanish bank and another from Venezuela to build the Olympic Village and sports installations. "I have said there cannot be austerity for sports, nor will be there. Within our possibilities, this government will increase the budget of the Ministry of Sports," said President Mejía. The Ministry has requested a budget of RD$810 million for 2001.
