June 30, 2003

After years of planning and preparation, the Special Olympics World Games opened and closed in Dublin, and left tens of thousands of athletes, volunteers, organizers and spectators with pleasant memories to last a long time.

Ireland's host city program worked very well, with cities and towns all across Ireland matched to host a delegation of suitable size from any one of the 166 nations represented at the games.

The SARS fears that had bothered organizers in the weeks leading up to the games were laid to rest. Some groups were quarantined, but the fears subsided. The delegation from Chinese Taipei, unable to visit prior to the games opening because of the quarantine, was able to visit their host city after the games.

The Opening Ceremony was celebrated in Croke Park stadium June 21, with the help of Irish President Mary McAleese, former South African President Nelson Mandela and Muhammad Ali. U2 helped provide musical entertainment.

Despite the SARS concerns prior to the games, by all reports there were no major controversies or political disturbances during the games. Organizers within the Special Olympics movement were pleased that the games could show once again what Special Olympians are capable of. Irish hosts were pleased that Ireland could pull of the games so magnificently.

A mild controversy in the week prior to the games occurred when Louis Walsh, manager of the band Westlife that was to appear in the closing ceremonies, made remarks that appeared to be insulting about the games and games organizers. Walsh told the Irish Times "It's a lot like a State funeral on television, you know, people will watch a bit here and there, but I don't think people are interested in it really. " Walsh continued, "I think some of the people up-front are definitely using it as a PR stunt......... it is definitely an ego trip for certain people involved in it." "They are going to get public attention for about 10 days or so, but what's going to happen to the tens of thousands of disadvantaged families who don't have the resources and for whom the Government have not done their duty? "These people are entitled to the same care every week and every year and they won't get it. A lot of public figures use the Special Olympics as a great photo opportunity and a PR stunt for them."

Despite an apology the next day, Walsh was not entirely forgiven. At the closing ceremony, actor Colin Farrell inspired the crowd to boo Walsh for his remarks.

Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern handed over the games flag to both the organizers of the next World Winter Games to be held in Nagano, Japan in 2005, and to the next World Summer Games host, Shanghai, China, scheduled to host the games in 2007.

Ireland's president, Mary McAleese closed the games with "We can be very proud. It was a week in which all of Ireland rose to the challenge. We have just witnessed our country at its very best."

World Medical and Health Games in the news

June 30, 2003

It's an unfortunate axiom, that many times an international games won't be covered in the news, until something unseemly happens.

Such was the case at the recently concluded World Medical and Health Games in Stirling, Scotland.

During a football match between teams of doctors and medical professionals from Italy and Hungary, an Italian player, upset over a misunderstanding of a foul, punched the referee during an argument. Police were called to the filed to calm the incident.

The player was sent home, expelled from the Italian team and banned for life from ever participating in the World Medical and Health Games again.

The World Medical and Health Games oath reads:

"Having prepared ourselves for the sporting events of the World Medical & Health Games, we accept the challenge of competition in a spirit of sportsmanship and friendship, respecting the sporting and professional ethics that bind us together, hoping that during the challenge the fair play spirit will be rekindled and we will set an example to all great international sports competitions."

Perhaps they should add a line about, "First do no harm."

But if it's not violence, its sex. The same paper, two days later covered the Beach Volleyball competition with a brief note under the title "Volley of the Dolls" that read, "No, this beach babe isn't playing volleyball on the Copacabana - this is Stirling in deepest Braveheart country. And you'd need courage to play beach volleyball in a car park in Scotland. But that's what 50 leggy lovelies in figure-hugging gear did yesterday. The car park needed 250 tons of imported white sand for the makeover. But the women competing in the World Medical Games, and their drooling fans, seemed to enjoy every minute."

Both items were from Glasgow's Daily Record, the only paper that seemed to cover the games at all.

Beijing Olympic Games Date Change

June 30, 2003

At the current IOC meetings in Prague, the IOC has agreed to switch the scheduled date of the 2008 Olympic Games from July 25- August 10 to August 8 to 24th. The move is mostly in hopes for slightly cooler, less humid weather.

Guernsey opens Island Games

June 28, 2003

A crowd of about 15,000 spectators welcomed the 10th edition of the NatWest Island Games to St. Peter Port, Guernsey June 28th. Guernsey becomes just the second city to host the games twice, having hosted the second edition in 1987.

The traditional water ceremony took place with each island mixing water from their island into a communal fountain floating in the harbor. The fountain will be kept flowing for the rest of the games.

23 islands, and just under 2500 competitors, marched in the ceremony. Bermuda is making its first ever appearance at the games.

12th South Pacific Games open in Suva

June 28, 2003

Fiji welcomed another edition of the South Pacific games to its shores, with a record twenty-two nations in attendance. Several contingents, such as the Cook Island, Samoa, and Wallis and Futuna, did war dances, or versions of the Haka as they marched into the ceremony.

After a rainy opening ceremony, Fiji's swimming star Carole Pickering, a multiple medal winner at the past two South Pacific Games, lit the games torch.

Fijian president, Ratu Josepa Illoilovata Uluvuda spoke to the athletes imploring them to "Be faithful to the ideals of the Games. Remember their purpose. You are all children of the unique and marvelous family of the South Pacific."

New Caledonia has been the traditional South Pacific Games powerhouse, winning the medals race on every occasion except for the first games in 1963 when Fiji was first, and 1991 when hosts Papua New Guinea won the medals race.

Afro Asian Games Update

June 26, 2003

After several postponements of the Afro-Asian Games scheduled for Delhi, and a successful National Games in Hyderabad, India, India's government and sports authorities switched the Afro-Asian games to Hyderabad last March in hopes that the new facilities there would make it easier to host the games.

But now, Indian sources are reporting that venues in Hyderabad still need some work. New hockey fields, lighting, new scoreboards and other equipment is still needed.

Money is said to be very tight for the games, with just a little over 2 million $US allocated for the games themselves and $3 million for renovating the games village. Nearly $17 million $US was spent on preparations for the games that were not held in Delhi in 2001.

The Games are to be held from October 24 to November 2. Athletes from Asian nations will be selected from the results of the 2002 Asian Games while African participants will be chosen from the 2003 African Games which will close on October 18. African athletes will travel directly from Abuja to Hyderabad, if all goes as planned. The top four athletes in each event at both games will be eligible to compete in the Afro-Asian Games.

Nations that did not have an athlete finish in the top four in their event will be allowed to enter runners in the Friendship Marathon. This will allow all nations to be represented at the games.

India is hoping that hosting the games will influence the voting for the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Voting for those games will take place shortly after the conclusion of the Afro-Asian Games.

Island Games to be on Internet Radio

June 25, 2003

Island Sport will be the temporary radio station set up to broadcast action and information from the NatWest Island Games in Guernsey. From June 28 until July 4th the station is scheduled to broadcast 24 hours a day.

Thirty-five people will work on the broadcasts during the games. The station is designed to be nonpartisan and report on all 23 islands that will be participating at the games.

In addition, every competitor in the games will receive a welcome pack upon arrival at the games. The pack will include an FM radio so that the participants can tune in to the news and information from the station. Tune in at http://www.guernsey2003.com

South Pacific Games Days Away

June 25, 2003

The South Pacific Games are just a few days away and organizers have certified that all venues are up to safety and health codes and ready for use. There was some concern that a few venues would not be ready, but organizers are now simply completing the landscaping, decorations and final venue preparation.

Fiji's Agriculture Department Quarantine Team has announced that it will have extra staff in place and be taking special security precautions to make sure that exotic pests and diseases are not brought into the country during the games.

Montreal Reducing Plans for Gay Games

June 24, 2003

The Committee organizing the 2006 Gay Games in Montreal had projected that 19,000 people would participate in the sports events and 5,000 in cultural events at the games. The Federation of Gay Games has told them that the projections are too high and to take another, closer look.

The Federation is concerned about keeping the games viable after losing money on the 1998 Amsterdam and 2002 Sydney games.

Roberto Mantaci, a co-president of the Federation said, "During the startup phase every host is very optimistic about what it can achieve. Sydney had many plans when they bid in 1997 that eventually they could not implement."

Montreal has submitted a new smaller budget for the games. With $2 million (Canadian) in guarantees from the Canadian and Quebec governments the games are ahead of Sydney's fundraising at the same point in time.

Hong Kong to bid for 2009 East Asian Games

June 24, 2003

Hong Kong is exploring the possibility of hosting the 2009 East Asian Games. The government estimates that it would take about 22 million dollars ($US) to host the 11 nations and 2000 athletes for the games.

The games have so far been held in Shanghai, China in 1993; Pusan, Korea in 1997 and Osaka, Japan in 2001. Macao is scheduled to host the 2005 Games.

Torch relay for the Pan American Games underway

June 23, 2003

The torch for the Pan-American Games was lit in Mexico today, at Teotihuacan and will be relayed through several cities in the United State and Puerto Rico before arriving in the Dominican Republic. The torch will be flown into Providence, Rhode Island from Mexico City, arriving in Providence June 25th.

On June 26th, the flame will be carried to Boston's Fenway Park. At 1:05 p.m. a ceremony is scheduled with Dominican Republic native and Red Sox pitcher Pedro Martinez prior to the game.

On June 27 through 29th, the torch will be relayed to New York City. The torch will be in Manhattan on the 28th and appear at a ceremony in Yankee Stadium on June 29th. Alfonso Soriano, another major-leaguer from the Dominican Republic will be part of the ceremonial festivities at Yankee Stadium.

The torch will then be flown to Miami, Florida for activities on June 30th, will be relayed around the Dominican neighborhood of Allapattah and appear at another Major League Baseball game that night, the Florida Marlins against the Atlanta Braves.

On July 1st the torch is scheduled to be flown to Puerto Rico and will be toured around most of the island until July 5th.

The torch finally arrives in the Dominican Republic on July 6, and will be relayed until August 1, the day of the opening ceremony.

Two Commonwealth Games in a row for Hamilton?

June 20, 2003

Hamilton, Canada is currently in the running for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, now Hamilton, New Zealand is pondering a bid for the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Hamilton's city council authorized spending on a report to check out the possibility of a bid.

This would be the first time in the over 2100 international games that have been held since 1896, that cities of the same name, in different countries, would host the same games back-to-back.

It's likely that neither Hamilton may get the games. Hamilton Canada's 2010 bid is strong, but is facing stiff competition from New Delhi, India and Hamilton, New Zealand is a small city in a small nation which may put it at a disadvantage for the games.

Hamilton, New Zealand does have some recent experience with some sizable games and may be able to pull it off. Hamilton has held the South Pacific Masters Games in 2000 and 2002 and are expecting some 5000 participants from 50 nations for a third edition of the South Pacific Masters Games in 2004.

While several Hamilton city representatives were positive about the idea, the proposal to look into a possible bid drew immediate opposition from the Hamilton Citizens and Ratepayers Association which said that any games would bankrupt the city.

X Games, three in a row for Aspen

June 18, 2003

Aspen, Colorado has been selected to host the Winter X Games for a third time, breaking the almost constant pattern of ESPN holding a games twice in one city and then moving on.

The Winter X Games have been held twice in a row in Aspen, and before that twice in a row in Mount Snow, Vermont and twice in a row at Crested Butte, Colorado. The first Winter X Games were held in Big Bear, California.

The summer X Games have so far held to the same pattern with the first two games held in Newport, Rhode Island before the games were held twice in San Diego, twice in San Francisco and twice in Philadelphia. The next two summer X Games are scheduled to be held in Los Angeles.

Aspen worked very hard to get the games for a third time, with the Aspen Ski Company agreeing to pay for expenses that ESPN had paid for the past two years, including incentives for lodging, transportation and marketing.

Businesses in Aspen felt that the games were great for Aspen's image. Aspen is attempting to tone down its image as only "posh" and "upscale" and try and win a larger share of the younger market. Having the Winter X Games return is a major part of this strategy.

Asian Indoor Games plans moving forward

June 15, 2003

The Olympic Council of Asia held their first meetings in Thailand last week to go ahead with the planning of the first Asian Indoor Games.

Pattaya, Thailand has been chosen as the host and the government of Thailand has budgeted 680 million Thai baht ($16.5 million US) to build an indoor arena that will contain a 200 meter track, a swimming pool, cycling, velodrome, and areas for futsal, acrobatics, aerobics, in-line hockey, dance sports and X Games sports. Some 2,500 athletes from 45 nations are expected to compete in 2005.

It was also announced that the second Asian Indoor Games have been awarded to Macao to be held in 2007.

2005 World Air Games field cut to two

June 15, 2003

Italy and Australia are out, Malaysia and Poland are still in, in the race for the 2005 World Air Games. The Federation Aeronautique Internationale is expected to choose a host within 2-3 weeks.

Melbourne starts countdown clock for Commonwealth Games

June 19, 2003

If all goes according to plan, the 2006 Commonwealth Games will kick off in Melbourne, Australia in 1000 days, or just under three years.

Melbourne started several countdown clocks around the city on June 19, 2003 to mark the occasion. Countdown clocks were also started in the capital, Canberra, and in London, England. 

The Games are scheduled to begin on March 15, 2006.

Pan-Am preparations crawl along

June 10, 2003

One of the problems with the Pan-American Games might be that the tickets have not been available, which may have been depriving the organizers of, if not a major funding source, some ready cash for expenses. Much has been made of the Pan-American Games facilities not being ready, but tickets for the games, which are supposed to begin August 1st, will not go on sale until some time in July.

Organizers may not be expecting much revenue from tickets anyway as admission will be free in some cases with tickets for other events ranging from $2.50 to around $22.00 US. Games officials, however, have said that prices that were originally reported for tickets in Dominican newspapers were not correct.

In the meantime, the debate over the readiness of facilities continues. All arguments will become moot on August 1, as the stadia will be ready, or won't be.

One Dominican newspaper reported that former president of the Olympic Committee, Roque Napoleon Muñoz, doubted that several of the venues will be ready on time.

Muñoz, in a press conference, stated that the venue designers have built gigantic facilities that are overly dimensioned. "That is why I left the Pan Ams because I could not share in those things," he said. He said that the government and the Pan American Games Organizing Committee share the responsibility for this situation.

Muñoz went on to say that when President Leonel Fernández gave his go ahead to the Games in 1997, the estimate was for the Games to cost about RD$752 million (about $28 million US). He said when President Hipólito Mejía again approved the Games upon being elected President, the budget was estimated at RD$1.2 billion (44 million US).

Currently, Muñoz has estimated the bill for the games at RD$5 billion or about $184 million.

So far, engineers due RD$8 million have only been paid RD $1 million and are concerned about getting paid for their work.

The current president of the Organizing Committee, Dr. José Joaquín Puello, responded to Muñoz the next day stating that all of the facilities would be finished three to six weeks before the games. Time is running short. As of June 10, there are just 52 days until the Pan American Games.

The games web site (http://www.santodomingo2003.org.do/) is currently of no help on either of these issues as it reroutes, at the moment, to a telecom company.

Malta wraps up a successful Small Nations Games

June 8, 2003

Malta exceeded her expectations in the 2003 Games of the Small countries of Europe, both on and off the field. The games were reportedly well organized, and, it will be reported in a few weeks whether or not the games made a profit. Games organizers are hinting that the outlook is positive for a small profit from the games.

On the field, Malta had her best small nations games performance ever winning 11 gold, 18 silver and 15 bronze medals. Malta's previous high for gold medals was seven and for total medals was 35, both at the 2001 games in San Marino.

The head of the organizing committee, Mr. Justice Farrugia Sacco, at the end of the games proposed beginning another competition for sports that are not included in the Small Nations Games, to be held every two or four years.

Cyprus finished on top of the medals table for just the second time in the history of the games.

Iceland, though second in total medals, slipped to third in the gold medal race, just the second time that Iceland had not won the medals race in ten editions of the games. 317 medals were awarded at this years games, second only to the 1997 games when 326 medals were available. Even given the availability of medals, Iceland's 20 gold medals was its lowest total ever in the games, having won 21 gold medals in the 1985 and 1989 games.

Luxembourg slipped in for second in the gold medal tally, its best ever performance.

Andorra is on the schedule to host the 2005 games and Monaco was named as 2007 at these games. Cyprus has nominated itself as host for the 2009 edition and Liechtenstein has asked for the 2011 games.

Medals table

2003 Games of the Small Countries of Europe

Arab Games postponed

June 5, 2003

When news of the of May 21, 2003 earthquake in Algiers was broadcast around the world, and before the extent of the devastation and death was known, one veteran international games watcher wondered aloud "will the Arab Games scheduled for Algiers in September be affected?"

Now, the Arab Games are the very least of Algeria's worries. Three weeks after the quake, Algeria is still digging out from underneath the rubble. Over 2200 people were reported killed and 10,000 injured. Algeria's president Abdelaziz Bouteflika has promised 1.9 billion US dollars in aid to rebuild some 40 towns that were leveled in the disaster. About 80,000 people were left homeless. The United States and 40 other nations have sent food, tents and other aid to Algeria. Bouteflika thanked those that lent aid but said Algeria was "capable of handling the catastrophe, contrary to what has been said."

Under these circumstances, organizing the Arab Games is out of the question. On June 4th, Algerian radio confirmed earlier reports that the games would be postponed. Algerian organizers also confirmed earlier sentiments that planning for the games was not on pace, and it was a certain relief to cancel the games.

This also no doubt also postpones the Arab Paralympic Games that were scheduled to be held after the Arab Games, but news reports did not confirm this.

The minister of youth and sports, Mohamed Allalou, stated to the BBC, "There is a positive perception of the postponement since we already had contacts in writing and even with messages. Even before the decision taken by the Council of Ministers, the colleagues and the friends in the Arab countries were wondering about the organization. They were already worried and to a certain extent they were expecting us to postpone these games. Therefore, after this meeting, I think that the Arab countries will respond favorably to the postponement of the games, God willing."

Algeria is now proposing that the games be held sometime in 2004, despite the Olympic Games being held in the same year. Algeria is speculating that after the Olympic Games might be better than holding the games before the Olympic Games. A meeting with the Arab League is scheduled in July to address the question and attempt to schedule new dates for the games.

The most recent games to be canceled due to an earthquake was the 1999 Black Sea Games which were scheduled to be held in Samsun, Turkey, September 7-12, 1999. The games were to be a first edition, but have never been rescheduled.

A January 2001 earthquake hit El Salvador, killing about 1000 people. El Salvador recovered in time to host the Central American and Caribbean Games in November 2002.

Monaco to host 2007 Games of the Small States of Europe

June 5, 2003

Meetings held in Malta at this years Games of the Small States of Europe confirmed that Monaco will host the 2007 edition. Monaco bid uncontested for these games.

During Monday's meeting, the committee decided to confirm Monaco as GSSE 2007 hosts. They were uncontested in their bid.

Cyprus has offered to host the 2009 games and Liechtenstein the 2011 games, both to be confirmed at a later date.

Andorra, the next games host in 2005, had planned on dropping women's volleyball as an event as they have no national team in that sport, but the games executive committee informed them that the event was required.

At the 2003 Malta Games, Luxembourg had one member of their women's basketball team ruled ineligible for not meeting residence requirements in Luxembourg. Athletes must reside in a country for three years before participating in the games. The athlete, from Hungary, had not yet met that requirement. A protest and appeal by Luxembourg were both overruled.

China and Canada now cleared, in part, for Special Olympics

June 5, 2003

Some, but not all of the Special Olympians from China and Canada will now be allowed to go to Ireland for the Special Olympics World Games which open on June 21. A ban had been placed on athletes coming from SARS affected nations.

An exception is still in place for athletes from SARS affected areas within such as Beijing, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Toronto. Athletes from those locales are still being asked not to travel.

Singapore and the Philippines, formerly on the list, have been given the go ahead to travel to the games.

Another Games canceled due to SARS

June 3, 2003

This year's edition of the Indianapolis-Scarborough Peace Games, scheduled for July 17-20, have been cancelled because of the SARS epidemic.

The games would have been the 31st annual competition between the two sister-cities. Scarborough is a suburb of Toronto, which has suffered a relapse in the number of cases of the SARS virus.

Officials in both Indianapolis and Scarborough are moving forward with plans for the 2004 games.

Last week, the organizers of the CANUSA Games, a competition between the cities of Flint, Michigan and Hamilton, Ontario, said that they were considering canceling their games this year over SARS concerns.

The Arafura Games in Darwin, Australia were cancelled in May, the Interreligious Peace Sports Festival scheduled to be held in Seoul, Korea in May has been postponed until July, and Special Olympics World Games organizers in Ireland have been attempting to get clearance for participants from nations on the World Health Organization's list of nations affected by the virus.

A very large number of other sports events have been cancelled or postponed due to SARS the past several months.

Government proposes changes in 2006 Commonwealth Games Committee

June 3, 2003

Recent concern over the rising costs for the planned 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne have prompted the Government of Victoria to propose legislation that would change the status of the 2006 Organizing Committee from a private company to a statutory authority. The change would make the committee subject to Freedom of Information laws, the State Ombudsman, and the Auditor - General.

Some news sources interpreted the proposed legislation as a move by the government to curtail the power of the Organizations leader, Ron Walker. Some observers have been of the opinion that the plans for the games are extravagant and overly expensive. The budget for the games has grown over $350 million Australian dollars since it was first proposed, and now sits at 1.1 billion.

Walker responded the day after the legislation that he actually requested the change and it would make the organizations more transparent and reduce the number of questions pertaining to the games budget.

2010 Commonwealth Bids move forward

June 3, 2003

Hamilton, Canada and New Delhi, India both submitted formal bids for the Commonwealth Games in London last week.

Hamilton is proposing a brand-new 42,000 seat stadium a 7,000-seat athletic center and an aquatic center at McMaster University. Hamilton's presentation in London was said to be subdued and businesslike, sticking to the basics of the bid.

New Delhi, on the other hand, filled their bid with plenty of singing and dancing. Indian newspapers reported confidently the news that the British Government was backing the New Delhi bid, and stated that there were several other countries that preferred the games go to India for the first time, rather than Canada for a fifth time.

Singapore a go for Special Olympics World Games

June 3, 2003

Singapore has been cleared from the World Health Organizations list of SARS affected countries, and athletes from Singapore will be permitted to travel to Ireland to participate in the Special Olympics World Games. The Singaporean team is scheduled to stay on Arklow, County Wicklow.

The games organizing committee is still waiting for the government to allow athletes from China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and certain athletes from the Toronto area to be allowed to come to Ireland for the Games.

Bombs in Afro-Asian games host city

June 3, 2003

Two small bombs have exploded in Hyderabad, India this past month, the latest injuring five people. The bombings continue a long string of bombings over the past several years in the city. Hyderabad is on the schedule to host the Afro-Asian Games later this year.

Vietnam attempting to lower crime prior to SEA Games

June 3, 2003

The SEA Games won't arrive in Vietnam until December, if all goes well, but police are already beginning to round up the criminal elements in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Police have said that they will focus on organized crime, and security for the games, but will also be paying attention to prostitution and drugs in karaoke bars, restaurants and discotheques.

Busy summer international games schedule starts this month

June 1, 2003

The tenth Games of the Small Countries of Europe in Malta lead off the 2003 Summer international games schedule. A total of 39 games, large and small are scheduled for the next three months.

The Malta games, sometimes called the Games of the Small States of Europe, or the Small Nations Games, will welcome Andorra, Cyprus, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco and San Marino to Malta.

The games popularity has grown tremendously since the first edition in San Marino in 1985. These tenth games will be covered on three Maltese television stations, PBS, NET TV and Super One, under an agreement reached just before the games for the three stations to share the broadcast duties. The three stations will broadcast different sports from the games. Malta's Olympic Committee gave the rights to the broadcasters at no cost.

NET TV, plans to suspend all regular programming and show the games for 10-hours each day.

The games will host a meeting of sports ministers, IOC President Jacques Rogge will be in attendance and members of the Royal families from Monaco, Luxembourg and Liechtenstein are scheduled to be at the games.

Members from the committees of the cities bidding for the Mediterranean Games, Patras, Greece, Pescara, Italy; and Rijeka, Croatia, and the 2010 Olympic Games, (Salzburg, Pyongyang and Vancouver) will also be at the games.

Will Algerian Earthquake postpone Arab Games?

June 1, 2003

News is trickling out of Algeria, that the committee in charge of organizing the Arab Games, scheduled for September 1-15, 2003, is considering asking for a postponement until 2004 due to the recent earthquake that shook the nation.

We'll report when news is confirmed as to whether or not the games will be postponed or held this year.

Will Pan-Am Preparations rush to completion?

June 1, 2003

The Dominican Republic's Minister of Public Works has stated that "finger crossing is not necessary" when it comes to the completion of the venues for the Pan-American Games in Santo Domingo, but according to press reports the facilities are far from complete.

With just two months to go, the organizers have missed the May 30 deadline that was put in place for the venues to be finished by. The newspaper Listin Diario has reported that only six of the 23 facilities that are being built for the games have been completed.

According to Listin Diario, facilities being renovated and still not finished are the Palacio de los Deportes, Carlos Teo Cruz Colisseum, Quisqueya, Tetelo Vargas and Cibao ball parks, Feria Ganadera, Santo Domingo Yacht Club, Olympic Stadium, velodrome, volleyball pavilion, racquetball courts, swimming, water polo and diving complex, tennis courts, table tennis facility, gymnastics pavilion, weight lifting pavilion, an amphitheater, equestrian center in El Higuero, soccer field in San Cristobal and Sans Souci shooting center.

Finished are the El Higuero shooting range, the handball pavilion, the wrestling pavilion, a soccer field, hockey field, archery installation.

The Venezuelan company in charge of renovating the Olympic Stadium has said they will finish July 25, a week before the games open.

Games for the rest of  2000