The Dominican Republic will host for the third time in 2026 the Central American and Caribbean Sports Games.
"The games are a golden opportunity in which our country will once again show off its vast experience in organizing international sports competitions", emphasized the Dominican president through a video, in Spanish and English, presented on a giant screen at the extraordinary assembly of the Centro Caribe Sports held in the Great Hall of the Hotel Intercontinental Calí.
He argued that the experiences of having successfully held the XII Central American Games in Santo Domingo and the XV in Santiago in 1974, as well as the Pan American Games in 2003, show that the country is prepared and ready to host the event again.
"Santo Domingo is the perfect setting to host these games, which will be the centenary games of the Odecabe centennial celebration", considered President Abinader.
For his part, the Minister of Sports, Francisco Camacho, said that the Silver Wedding in the First City of America guarantees a happy celebration because it has the full support of a government that has sport as its flagship.
The minister pointed out that now we have the luck that engineer Juan Ulises García Saleta did not have in Panama 51 years ago, who led a movement to reach the headquarters of the XII Games, but did not have the support of the then president.
He indicated that the government has spared no effort so that the resources reach the sport on time and gave as an example that a year ago it arranged for the delivery of the same to the Dominican delegation that participates in the First Youth Pan American Games, which will be inaugurated tonight. at the Pascual Guerrero Olympic Stadium.
Previously, Antonio Acosta, president of the Olympic Committee, accompanied by Gilberto García, secretary of that body, as well as accompanied by José Manuel Ramos, president of the Dominican Equestrian Federation, and Arístides Fernández Zucco, head of the Dominican Association of Equestrian jumping.
Acosta and Ramos highlighted that the country has the sports infrastructure, the experience and the support of President Abinader to once again celebrate the games successfully.
The executive committee of Centro Caribe Sports, chaired by Luis Mejía Oviedo, accepted the request automatically during its extraordinary assembly for the interest shown by the dominican government and, furthermore, because it was the only candidate.
¨ Fortunately the city of Santo Domingo has maintained its interest. She was the only one who was there and she has met all the requirements ¨, said Luisín.
“Our main task is to mount the Central American Games”, emphasized Mejía Oviedo during the assembly in the Great Hall of the Intercontinental Hotel Calí.
In his report, Mejía Oviedo revealed that three new disciplines will be accepted in the regional fair. It’s about surfing, bodybuilding, and net ball.
Also present at the assembly were Luis Chanlatte, head of mission of the Dominican delegation to the Panam Juniors; Edwin Rodríguez, co-treasurer of the COD, and Tony Mesa, Technical Director of Centro Caribe Sports, among others.
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