Pan Am Games Organizers Seek Confidence, Face New Deadlines

(ATR) Officials from the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara ask for confidence that they will deliver the mega-event on time in 11 months -- but major hurdles and minor questions remain.

During a daylong presentation Tuesday, Pan American Sports Organization President Mario Vazquez Rana told a PASO assembly in Acapulco that he always jokingly adds the qualifier "if they are going to happen," to any Pan Am Games discussions.

Now that there is no other choice but to forge ahead with Guadalajara, he imposed a deadline of Nov. 20 for choosing an anti-doping lab and a television production company.

Although Mexico has tried for years to certify a lab, it is now too late with the Games scheduled to open on Oct. 14, 2011. Labs in Barcelona, Montreal and Los Angeles have offered proposals for satellite labs.

"If on Nov. 20 that agreement is not signed, I will sign it myself, on behalf of the 42 Olympic Committees," Vazquez Rana said.

"Who's going to pay? Probably us. Who are we going to charge? I don't know that. I want to be clear: this cannot go on any longer."

Regarding television production, he said that Manolo Romero, who produces Olympic broadcasts, "is the only one who knows how to do the job. He's worth it and he needs to be paid."

Vazquez Rana also scolded Carlos Andrade, Director General of COPAG, for saying the cycling track would be one of the best in the world. The venue, which had been listed as completed, needs more work because two columns obstruct the view of the finish. There will be a "V" shape for the supports instead.

"It was built wrongly, now it is being fixed," Vazquez Rana said. "Don't tell me it is the best in the world. I want this meeting to be truthful, open and frank."

Andrade told Around the Rings that COPAG would have no trouble meeting the Nov. 20 deadline. "I'm sure we can do that," he said.

He said that Vazquez Rana's criticism and annoyance are because "He's Mexican and the Games are in Mexico, so he asks for more from us."

Andrade added, "They're not worried any more. This will be the best PAG that will ever be organized."

Guadalajara organizers told the assembly that the athletics track had been moved to a different site, which was better for access, but surprised even PASO officials by revealing a new venue for boxing.

Felipe Munoz, president of the Mexican Olympic Committee, said the Pan Am Games in Winnipeg in 1999 had facilities issues, the 2003 Santo Domingo Games suffered from economic trouble and Rio de Janeiro also had problems ahead of the 2007 edition, "but their games were almost of an Olympic level."

"Guadalajara has met difficulties, but we have slowly begun to solve them," he said.

Questions from the floor revealed the level of concern other countries have about the Games. They ranged from wondering if toilets would be tested in the Village, which may be completed as early as May 15, to whether drivers would be familiar with their routes.

Visas, travel grants and length of stay allowed in the Village were also issues, as well as the menu in the Village. Although organizers said the menu would be different for each of the two weeks, a catering company has not been hired yet.

Comparisons wereinevitable with the recently-completed Commonwealth Games in Delhi, which were also plagued by problems getting ready.

Keith Joseph, secretary general of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, said they should not still be dealing with construction of the Village and the changing athletics track at this stage.

"I think they will get it resolved, but it will not be the world-class facility we would have liked to see," he told ATR. "One of the things that we just experienced with the Commonwealth Games is that whatever is required to be done will be done, i.e., that we will have facilities to facilitate Games.

"As we say, you might get some paint on your pants," said Joseph.

Judy Simons, president of the Bermuda Olympic Association, told ATR that there are "always hiccups that lead up to major festivals, budgetary constraints.

Construction is always a key issue. At the end of the day, they'll be good games. I won't say right up to the 11th hour, 58th minute there might not be issues. But I think by and large, the athletes will be happy. If what I saw with the Pan Am Village comes to fruition, it will be a great PanAm Village."

Caroline Assalian, executive managing director of the Canadian Olympic Committee, asked the questions about infrastructure in the Village. "I am satisfied that they have it as a concern," she told ATR.

"The toilets still have to flush and the water still has to drain, I'm satisfied that they're aware of it. The question is, what's going to happen and are they equipped to deal with it?"

Michael Fennell, the PASO technical chairman who visited Guadalajara in September, expressed disappointment that the warm-up track was only 200 meters, which satisfies minimum requirements butis considered "an inferior athletics facility" and "lost all legacy value."

The hockey warm-up facility is half-court, which he said was also disappointing.

Fennell added that the swimming pool, which was supposed to be finished in December, looks to be a good complex, but "we are concerned that it seems to be falling behind time."

However, the area of most concern is the overlay plan once the venues are in place. "Overlay is an area that has been a problem for all Games - Olympic, Commonwealth, Pan American, Caribbean, " Fennell said, "how to put it in place to satisfy requirements for the Games."

Fennell, of course, is an expert in dealing with problematic preparations for a games. He’s president of the Commonwealth Games Federation, which just got through the CWG in Delhi.

COPAG officials assured the assembly that the track and hockey fields were the best available and that the aquatics center would be finished by February.

Andrade stressed to ATR that any changes that are made are "change for good."

The day was instructive for the fledging Toronto 2015 organizing committee. "I think you have to expect the group will have high standards and it's up to us to live up to the standards," CEO Ian Troop told ATR. "I thought there were some good, engaged questions."

He said the difference between "difficulties" and "work" depends on perspective. "My perspective is they've got some more work to do," Troop said, "but they've been making good progress so there's no reason to think they can't do it."

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Written and reported in Acapulco by Karen Rosen andEd Hula.