ATLANTA, (Reuters) – The United States Olympic Committee promised yesterday to have a security plan in place before sending athletes to the Pan American Games this year in Guadalajara, which is engulfed in a deepening drug war.
The violence in Mexico’s second biggest city has raised concerns about Guadalajara’s ability to host thousands of athletes and tens of thousands of fans from across the Americas at the Oct. 14-30 Pan American Games.
“We talked a lot about the Pan Am Games,” Scott Blackmun, the USOC’s chief executive, told reporters at the end of a board meeting yesterday.
“Everyone is quite aware of the violence, we’re obviously concerned about it but at the end of the day we will have a good security plan in place to protect our athletes.”
The buildup to the Pan Am Games has been marred by violence as drug cartels battle for control of the host city.
Guadalajara has been the scene of escalating fighting with gangs attacking bars, police stations, hijacking cars and blocking major roads and highways.
“On Thursday I am headed to Guadalajara for a two-day meeting and I am sure that security will be one of the significant issues that will be discussed,” said USOC Chairman Larry Probst. “At that meeting we will hear from the Pan Am Games organising committee what their plans are.”
At the Pan-Am Games, held every four years, 42 countries will compete in 36 sports ranging from basketball to fencing and swimming.
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