More visitors expected for Pan Am Games

The Dominican Republic hopes the 14th Pan American Games scheduled for next August in Santo Domingo will benefit the country as a tourist destination and raise the number of travelers coming to this island.

Jose Joaquin Puello, president of the Games Organizing Committee, announced a huge sponsorship program and other earning estimates out of sales of local television rights and venue tickets, a couple of elements that will bring in large lump sums of money for the institution and eventually the Dominican state.

In preparation for the Pan Am Games, the Dominican government is shelling out huge amounts of cash with the hope of raking back 75 percent of it.

Mr. Puello added the top sponsorship program will come with the sale of television rights. OTI Co. has already bought TV rights for $4.1 million for international broadcast. The committee expects to make a similar killing with the sale of local television rights.

Among the so-called direct sponsors of the 2003 Pan Am Games in Santo Domingo, Mr. Puello cited OMEGA, installing electronic information services and donating high-tech equipment that will remain in the venues after the competitions are over.

As far as the tourist side is concerned, the Dominican official explained the country will count on 550 hours of TV broadcasts that it plans to produce for Canadian company CBC, hired for this particular purpose.

The 14th Pan Am Games will take place in Santo Domingo from August 1 through 17 with the participation of some 6,000 athletes from 42 member nations of the Pan American Sport Organization that will fight for the gold in 35 disciplines.