7 News Belize

The GAMES IN Guadalajara
posted (July 7, 2011)
Mexico is on a worldwide media blitz counting down 100 days to the 16th Pan American games. The games which are held every four years will be held in the Mexican city of Guadalajara from the 14th thru the 30th of October this year. The government has spent hundreds of millions of dollars to construct dozens of new stadiums and millions more to improve the city's infrastructure that is expected to hosts hundreds of thousands of visitors to the games. At a press conference held yesterday at the Mexican Institute of Culture in Belize City, the Mexicans were tooting their horn, and Jim McFadzean was there...

Jim McFadzean Reporting:

"Estamos listo - we're ready." says Mexico for the 2011 Pan-American games. The games, now only 99 days away, are being hosted by Mexico's second largest city, Guadalajara, synonymous with that famous Mexican export, Tequila. Mexico says that it's invested billions of dollars to ensure the safety and enjoyment of the millions expected to play the games.

Hector Peralta - Charge' d' Affaires, Embassy of Mexico
"The facilities have been built - 23 stadiums- they have been renovated more than 3 different venues. Some of the professional stadiums that are now in the Guadalajara, has been really useful, or re-conditioned for this purpose. They have been making a big effort. Almost 50,000 works has been created just trying to promote this Pan-American games . We think that it is very important. It would be representing a very big investment. More than 2 million dollars has been in this spent in this effort. Of course, they are expecting, with the visitors and that there will be as well so windfall from resource in this case, that will be maybe equal or super equal. It is the export of tequila that - many of you do know - I'm sure that you didn't know that it is export symbol from the state of Caliz."

But amidst today's hoopla, Belize's participation at the 16th games is overshadowed by its minimal participation. The country did not qualify to participate in any of the major spectator sports such as Basketball, Football, and Cycling. Not even in Softball, the only sport that Belize has ever won medals.

Ned Pitts - President, Belize Olympic Association
"There were two segments we are looking at. And that was the segment of cycling and athletic. But so far now, the segment we are positive in the superlative, really, that athletics will be at the games."

And Athletics, specifically Track and Field is about the only glimmer of hope for Belize in the 2011 games. It's most recent medal performances in regional competition is reason for optimism amongst sports officials here.

Ian Gray - President, BAAA
"Currently, we're looking at - on the women's side - the hundred meters, 200 hundred meters, 400 meters, long jump, triple jump, quite possibly the heptathlon, 4 by 400 meter relay. On the males side, 100, 200 and 400 meters hurdles, 400 meters open, 800 meters, the long jump, triple jump 4 by 100 meters relay, 4 by 400 meters relay."

Jim McFadzean
"We've seen some great performances coming out of Central America recently by our athletes in track and field, are they expected to be very competitive at these games?"


Ian Gray
"Yes, we do expect it and we have - we gonna have a training draft that will run about 9 months. We have a sold cadre of coaches - Coach Moris, Coach Evans, Coach Jaheed Smith, and they are ensuring that our athletes are prepared. Those who are based outside, like Kaina Martinez, her coaches are sure that she will make not only the Pan Am games Olympic qualification time, but the Olympic qualification time."

The country has until July 30, to submit its final roaster for theme Belize.

And there's more news form the Mexican Embassy tonight. The Mexican Congress has named a new Ambassador to Belize. He is Mario Velazquez Suarez. Suarez replaces former Mexican Ambassador to Belize, Luis Manuel Lopez Moreno who served from 2007 until January of this year.





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