NewsWhore
07-08-2010, 03:20 PM
Failing air conditioning and a leaking roof led the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) to suspend the 2010 Centrobasket tournament that was being held at the Palacio de los Deportes. A decision on whether to continue the tournament at 3pm today is due to be reached earlier today.
Game 1 on Wednesday was played between Panama and the US Virgin Islands, with the US Virgin Islands winning 82-74. But moisture on the court led to dangerous playing conditions, leading to the suspension of three other games scheduled for the day.
If the tournament continues, the games will be rolled over one day. If it is possible to continue the event, it will end on Monday instead of Sunday.
The Public Works Ministry did not come through in time with the repairs needed to prepare the facility for the regional sports championship that is a qualifier for the Central American and Caribbean Games and the Pan Am Games. Frank Herasme, president of the Dominican Basketball Federation (Fedombal) said that repairs that the government had made to the air conditioning system were mere scams to benefit the government.
The DR was leading the tournament with two wins when the games scheduled for 7 July were suspended.
FIBA Americas Secretary General, Alberto Garcia announced the suspension. He said that the organizers had promised portable air conditioning would be installed so the tournament could continue. He said that the government had been negligent in its maintenance of the city's main basketball arena.
In an interview on "Desde las Gradas" radio show, he said that Fedombal would have to pay the resulting costs, because they are not going to penalize the Ministry of Sports or the President of the Republic. He said regardless of whether the tournament continues, Fedombal would be fined US$7,500-US$50,000 and could lose its membership in the international basketball organization.
FIBA technical director Anibal Garcia said that the disbursements for the event were made two days ago, with the organizers leaving everything for the last minute.
On his afternoon talk show yesterday, news commentator Huchi Lora complained that much of the Ministry of Sports budget is dedicated to propaganda and creating an image as opposed to providing funds for maintaining facilities. He criticized the Ministry of Sports for a widespread advertising campaign in the Soccer World Cup to stress the Fernandez administration support for sports.
This is the first time the DR has failed at hosting a major sports event.
Reports indicate that the event could have been hosted at the Santiago Sports Palace, but Sports Minister Jay Payano opposed the proposed change of venue was.
The event was hosted to give the DR an opportunity to qualify for the Olympics in 2012.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#13)
Game 1 on Wednesday was played between Panama and the US Virgin Islands, with the US Virgin Islands winning 82-74. But moisture on the court led to dangerous playing conditions, leading to the suspension of three other games scheduled for the day.
If the tournament continues, the games will be rolled over one day. If it is possible to continue the event, it will end on Monday instead of Sunday.
The Public Works Ministry did not come through in time with the repairs needed to prepare the facility for the regional sports championship that is a qualifier for the Central American and Caribbean Games and the Pan Am Games. Frank Herasme, president of the Dominican Basketball Federation (Fedombal) said that repairs that the government had made to the air conditioning system were mere scams to benefit the government.
The DR was leading the tournament with two wins when the games scheduled for 7 July were suspended.
FIBA Americas Secretary General, Alberto Garcia announced the suspension. He said that the organizers had promised portable air conditioning would be installed so the tournament could continue. He said that the government had been negligent in its maintenance of the city's main basketball arena.
In an interview on "Desde las Gradas" radio show, he said that Fedombal would have to pay the resulting costs, because they are not going to penalize the Ministry of Sports or the President of the Republic. He said regardless of whether the tournament continues, Fedombal would be fined US$7,500-US$50,000 and could lose its membership in the international basketball organization.
FIBA technical director Anibal Garcia said that the disbursements for the event were made two days ago, with the organizers leaving everything for the last minute.
On his afternoon talk show yesterday, news commentator Huchi Lora complained that much of the Ministry of Sports budget is dedicated to propaganda and creating an image as opposed to providing funds for maintaining facilities. He criticized the Ministry of Sports for a widespread advertising campaign in the Soccer World Cup to stress the Fernandez administration support for sports.
This is the first time the DR has failed at hosting a major sports event.
Reports indicate that the event could have been hosted at the Santiago Sports Palace, but Sports Minister Jay Payano opposed the proposed change of venue was.
The event was hosted to give the DR an opportunity to qualify for the Olympics in 2012.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#13)