Brazil to host 2007 Pan Am Games
...vies for 2012 Olympics
By Candyss Odle
Stabroek News
March 15, 2003
Brazil has won the bid to stage the 2007 Pan American Games, slated for July 13-29 and will vie for the 2012 Olympic Games.
Director of International Relations for Brazil, Mr.Carlos Osorio left Guyana yesterday after a brief visit. He is expected to visit other national Olympic committees, especially those who supported Brazil bid to host the 2007 Games.
Speaking at a luncheon yesterday, Osorio said his country is very grateful for the support given by other countries.
The Pan American Games flag will be given to Brazil at the conclusion of this year's Games, billed for the Dominican Republic in August, for Brazil to commence their programme.
Osorio explained that not only was the bid to host the Games, a bid from Brazil, but also a South American bid. He is hoping that in the four years leading up to 2007, local athletes would go to Brazil and compete, so as to produce good results from the Region at the 2007 Games.
Athletes will be housed in the city of Rio, for the first time ever and 23 venues will be used for the various events.
Sixteen of the existing sporting facilities that will be renovated, while of the other seven, five will be permanent structures, namely, a national track stadium, a multi-purpose arena, a velodrome, an aquatic centre and the Pan Am village which will be sold as executive condominiums after the Games.
The three temporary facilities will be the area for baseball and softball, the area for archery, and the area for beach volleyball.
Osorio also requested Guyana's support in Brazil's bid to host the Olympic Games in 2012, and at present two cities - Rio and Sao Paulo - are locked in battle to host the event. An internal decision will be made by July 7.
Bids for the 2012 Olympic will close on July 15.
Osorio pointed out that no country in South America has ever hosted the Olympics Games.
"We are developing and we deserve the honour to hold the Olympic Games some day, and we hope that it can be in 2012" Osorio stated, but pointed out that it could be a joint South American effort.
