Officials highlighted that this project is part of the Government’s commitment to the preparation for the Santo Domingo 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games and to the modernization of national sports.
Santo Domingo Este, DR.– The Vice President of the Republic, Raquel Peña, together with the Minister of Housing and Buildings (MIVED), Carlos Bonilla, led this Thursday the delivery of the Dr. José Joaquín Puello Weightlifting Pavilion, in the Parque del Este, completely renovated and adapted to the highest international standards.
The project, which will benefit hundreds of Dominican athletes, is part of the sports infrastructure modernization program being executed by the government of President Luis Abinader with a view to the celebration of the XXV Central American and Caribbean Games Santo Domingo 2026, the most important sporting event in the region.
During her speech, Vice President Raquel Peña stated that this renovation represents a sign of the Government’s commitment to the modernization of sports facilities and the creation of dignified spaces for the development of national sports.
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“Every sports space we deliver represents an important step in the development of Dominican sports and in the training of our athletes. Under the leadership of President Luis Abinader, we continue to invest in works that strengthen the country’s talent and sporting identity,” expressed Peña.
The vice president recalled that since last year, more than thirty new or renovated sports facilities have been delivered throughout the national territory, and that the program continues to advance with essential works for the Santo Domingo 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games.
For his part, Minister Carlos Bonilla highlighted that “this effort by the Government is a clear demonstration of President Abinader’s vision: to leave a tangible legacy of development, organization, and excellence for Dominican sports. Never before has a sports modernization program of this magnitude been executed.”
Likewise, the Minister of Sports, Kelvin Cruz, highlighted “the great joy I feel seeing how a team of men and women committed to sports has been structured. A team of men and women who are attentive and well-focused, focused on ensuring that these Central American and Caribbean Games turn out well. A team integrated with the best of the best that Dominican sports has had, from the Olympic movement, the Olympic committee, the federations, which are the parent institutions that mark the organization of this great sporting event that we are heading towards in the year 2026”.
Likewise, the president of the Organizing Committee for the XXV Central American and Caribbean Games, José Monegro, emphasized that “we must add love to this facility, which has been a sacrifice, a sacrifice extracted from the budget of a country with many situations; therefore, if it has been carried out in this facility, we must love it in order to take care of it and give it proper use”.
In that same vein, the president of Centro Caribe Sports, Luisín Mejía, maintained that “a better country is built when the country’s citizens decide to invest, decide to direct their resources along the best paths, and this path that you and we are on today is one of them. As president of Centro Caribe, we approached the President of the Republic and he gave his approval. He did not only do it with words, but he gave instructions and got to work. Today this is a reality, 267 days away from this great event that awaits us, we are committed to finishing these games well, they will be memorable, they will be the centenary games”.
The Dr. José Joaquín Puello Weightlifting Pavilion has a total area of 3,553.93 square meters remodeled, including 224.22 meters of competition area and 575.13 meters of warm-up zone. It has a capacity for 1,202 spectators, a VIP box, press area, locker rooms, administrative offices, doping control zone, saunas, cafeteria, rest area, and accessible restrooms for people with disabilities.
The lighting in the competition area reaches 1,500 lux, complying with international standards, and the project includes new electrical, plumbing, data, and video surveillance systems, as well as landscaping and expansion of the competition platform.
With this delivery, the Ministry of Housing and Buildings adds a new project to those already inaugurated in record time, including the Félix Sánchez Olympic Stadium, the Fencing Pavilion, and the Archery Pavilion, reaffirming the Government’s commitment to delivering modern and functional sports infrastructure for the upcoming Games.
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Accompanying Vice President Peña and Minister Bonilla were the Governor of Santo Domingo, Lucrecia Santana; the Mayor of Santo Domingo East, Dio Astacio; the Vice Minister of Social Development of the Presidency; the President of the Dominican Olympic Committee, Garibaldi Bautista; the former President of the Dominican Olympic Committee, Dr. José Joaquín Puello; the President of the Dominican Weightlifting Federation, William Félix Ozuna; the General Director of Community Development, Modesto Guzmán; and Father Rudy Belén Rosario, from the Santa María de Dios and San Francisco de Sales Parish.
