December 1, 2005

Updating its decision from three weeks ago, the nations of ORDECA (Organización Deportiva Centroamericana) have decided to reduce the schedule further, eliminating 5 sports, and leaving 20 sports to be hosted by six countries.

Lack of entrants was cited for eliminating tennis, handball, bowling, rowing and chess.

The games are still to be spread out among six different nations as follows:

Guatemala - cycling, equestrian, football, shooting and weightlifting

Nicaragua - athletics, boxing, bodybuilding, baseball and volleyball

Panama - basketball, fencing, wrestling, swimming and softball

Honduras - judo and table tennis

Costa Rica - taekwondo and triathlon

Belize - karate-do.

The games are to be held March 3-12, 2006.

Rare Solution proposed to Rescue Central American Games

November 5, 2005

The nations of ORDECA (Organización Deportiva Centroamericana) have come to a unique agreement to rescue the eighth edition of the Central American games.

The games will be spread out in six of the seven countries. El Salvador, the nation hardest hit by Hurricane Stan, and one of the planned hosts for the games in December of this year, will be the only nation not to hold any events.

Nicaragua was named as the original host for the 2005 games after the 2001 games. When Nicaragua decided they could not host the games, the events were split between El Salvador and Guatemala. After Hurricane Stan, the games were postponed from December 2005 to March 3-12, 2006, then briefly canceled. Upon revival organizers plan to retain the March 3-12 dates.

Nicaragua will host athletics, baseball, boxing, weightlifting, volleyball and bodybuilding.

The rest of the events will be spread as follows:

Belize: karate.

Costa Rica: chess, bowling, taekwondo, shooting.

Guatemala: cycling, equestrian, gymnastics, and rowing.

Honduras: handball, judo, tennis, table tennis.

Panama: basketball, fencing, wrestling, swimming, softball.

The site for football competitions is still being decided.

ORDECA will meet in about two weeks time to determine if the proposed entries warrant the addition or elimination of any sports on the program.