| | 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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