(ATR) The Puerto Rico Olympic Committee (COPUR) announced on Friday that it was withdrawing Mayagüez's candidacy as the host city for the XXIV Central American and Caribbean Games 2022.
That leaves San Salvador, El Salvador as the only remaining bidder.
The decision by COPUR was taken due to "the uncertain situation of completing the budget of 70.5 million dollars to hold the Games", according to a statement.
It was adopted by the Executive Committee of COPUR, headed by its president Rosario Vélez, on the April 30 deadline set by the Commission for Future Venues of Centro Caribe Sports to complete various requirements by the two aspiring host cities including the guarantee of the budget to hold the Games.
The assurance of the visa for all participating delegations (in particular for the Cuban delegation), definition of COVID-19 protocols, details of the cruises that will accommodate the athletes, amount to be paid by the National Olympic Committees for the participation of their delegations and the possibility of adapting facilities for the sport of racquetball, completed the "package" of demands for the Puerto Rican project.
According to the note, COPUR reflected on the uncertainty of the possibility of using federal funds and the time to complete the estimated budget of 70.5 million dollars for logistics use. The Fiscal Oversight Board had approved 50 million dollars that were subject to federal funds, avoiding spending from the country's general budget fund and being administered by the Office of Management and Budget, the statement said.
San Salvador, capital of El Salvador, is the other candidate, and now the only candidate for the XXIV Central American and Caribbean Games, whose original venue had been granted to Panama City since 2018. Panama suddenly withdrew in the summer of 2020 due to the pandemic.
A source close to the San Salvador Candidacy Committee confirmed to Around the Rings that the required documentation had been sent to the president of Centro Caribe Sports Luis Mejía, "on time".
ATRhas learned that the Executive Committee of Centro Caribe Sports will meet virtually this Saturday to review the current situation after the withdrawal of Mayaguez. Confirmation from San Salvador is expected, although it has emerged that some members are concerned about the date scheduled by the Salvadorans to hold the Games in March 2023, six months before the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile.
Written and reported by Miguel Hernandez
For general comments or questions,click here.
Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.
Últimas Noticias
Sinner-Alcaraz, the duel that came to succeed the three phenomenons
Table tennis: Brazil’s Bruna Costa Alexandre will be Olympic and Paralympic in Paris 2024
Rugby 7s: the best player of 2023 would only play the medal match in Paris
Rhonex Kipruto, owner of the world record for the 10000 meters on the road, was suspended for six years
Katie Ledecky spoke about doping Chinese swimmers: “It’s difficult to go to Paris knowing that we’re going to compete with some of these athletes”
