In the Wednesday evening edition of the newspaper "El Nacional", Sports Editor Leo Corporán, citing "credible sources," caused an uproar in Santo Domingo by claiming that the Fernández government was about to abandon its bid to host the 2003 Pan American Games. The report was repeated on Thursday by all the morning dailies, complete with reactions from both well-known people and from "man in the street" interviews. Yesterday the Dominican Olympic Committee (COD) denied the report and says they have been reassured that the government still supports the bid. "We’re moving forward with this project," declared COD President Dr. José Joaquín Puello Herrera, who said that the COD has not been notified of any change in attitude on the government’s part and that the Committee is still preparing its next presentation to the Pan Am body examining bids to host the game. Delegates from the Americas will vote on the next cite for the Pan American sports games in Panama City on December 6th.
