Tuesday, October 17
Financial backing to be established at meeting
 
 Associated Press

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Dominican organizers for the 2003 Pan American Games are confident they will have enough money to hold the event in Santo Domingo.

The president of the organizing Dominican committee said legal records show the government has obtained financing.

Jose Juaquin Puello plans to present the records when the Pan American Sports Organization's executive committee meets Saturday in Colorado Springs.

"This meeting will be very important for the future of sports in the Dominican Republic," Puello told El Hoy, a Dominican newspaper.

It will cost an estimated $62.5 million for Santo Domingo to stage the Pan Am Games. Lawmakers in the Dominican Republic have questioned whether the Caribbean nation can afford it.

The government of former President Leonel Fernandez agreed to hold the quadrennial regional Olympics, but he was voted out of office in May. His successor, Hipolito Mejia, said last week he supports the games.

Canada (1999), Argentina (1995) and Cuba (1991) held the three previous Pan Am Games. Santo Domingo won the bid for the 2003 games over Guadalajara, Mexico. San Antonio is expected to be among the favorites for 2007.
 


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