22 July 2003

The mega-facilities for the Games
The superstructures built for racquetball and volleyball on occasion of the Pan Am Games is the subject of a Listín Diario report today. The newspaper says that the racquetball practice facility covers an area of 1,200 square meters and includes eight fully air-conditioned courts, with each court using a five-ton unit. To operate the facility, a power plant of 170 kWh is employed. Randy Stafford, internationally recognized in the racquetball world, was the designer of the facility.
The volleyball installation, with its capacity for 5,030 fans, can be used for various sports and shows. The Listín Diario highlighted the fact that the facility was built to Olympic standards.
Another venue built to Olympic standards is the aquatic center for the Games, which has stands to accommodate 3,000 spectators.
The newly remodeled Velodrome has been upgraded to world-class standard with capacity for a crowd of 3,200. The Velodrome’s had been abandoned shortly after its construction in 1974 for the 12th Central American and Caribbean Sports Games.
Other Olympic standard facilities built for the Games include:
• Tennis stadium – capacity of 3,800
• Gymnastics pavilion - capacity of 3,625
• Table tennis – capacity of 1,800
• Weightlifting – capacity of 1,644
• Hockey on grass – capacity of 965
• Archery arena – capacity of 900
• Amphitheater – capacity of 5,000


DR TV lukewarm over games’ transmission
The president of the Organizing Committee, José Joaquín Puello, complained that local TV stations have not yet purchased rights to the transmission of the images from the Pan Am Games. So far, he said, only RTVD, the state-run Channel 4, and the government-intervened stations Telecentro (Channel 13) and RNN (Channel 27) have confirmed their interest. Puello said they are still talking with Telesistema (Channel 11), however that station is only willing to pay for two hours a day.
President Hipólito Mejía has called the Pan Am Games the greatest achievement of his government, so it is likely the government will pick up the tab to televise the Games for the Dominican people.


Strict security for Pan Am Games
The Listín Diario reports that very tight security measures will be in place for the upcoming Pan American Games, as announced by Major General Gustavo A. Jorge García yesterday. No liquor, glasses or glass bottles will be allowed at the venues.
The “Ten Commandments” were distributed to the reporters from the Listín by the general, who emphasized that respecting these rules will be mandatory for all spectators, including high-ranking officials and members of the military.
The first two chapters contain the list of prohibited objects, such as bottles, cans – even Frisbees – and basically anything that could harm an athlete or spectator. National flags are limited to one meter by two meters in size. Animals are forbidden, as are skateboards, skates, and anything under pressure, such as a spray-can. Spectator behavior will also be monitored and will demand civility and decorum at all times.
The rights of the licensed vendors will be protected, and all non-authorized sales within the installations or venues are prohibited. Begging and religious or political proselytizing is permitted.


Blank check for Pan Am Games
The government is ready to give the red carpet treatment to all coming for the Games. There will be no lack of funds, according to President Mejía. “I am most concerned about the staging of the Games, that the visitors may feel good about their stay,” he said, as reported in El Caribe newspaper.
The statesman said he is willing to continue fitting the bill for the Games. “I have my pen right here,” he told a journalist. “The checkbook is here.”

Source: http://dr1.com

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