Santo Domingo. – With just over a year to go until the celebration of the Central American and Caribbean Games Santo Domingo 2026 (from July 24 to August 8), the remodeling work on the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center is progressing intensely. This was confirmed by José P. Monegro, president of the Organizing Committee of the multi-sport event, who offered detailed information on the main works in progress, their delivery dates, and the scope of the interventions in this emblematic sports complex. From the initial coordination with the Ministry of Housing, Habitat and Buildings (MIVED) —the entity responsible for the execution of the works— a rigorous work schedule was established which, according to Monegro, “is being fully complied with, even with some facilities slightly ahead of schedule.” A palpable example of this advance is the archery range, where it is already planned to hold a Pan American tournament next July, before the Games, thanks to the fact that its remodeling has already been completed. “That shows that we are doing well. The first thing we did was coordinate a realistic schedule with MIVED, and today we can say that it is being respected and even exceeded in some cases,” he explained.
Olympic Stadium and double athletics track
One of the central pieces of the event will undoubtedly be the Félix Sánchez Olympic Stadium, where work is being carried out in two phases. The first was adapted to meet the requirements of the Women’s Football World Cup, and now the second phase has begun, focused on the athletics track. Monegro assured that this stage will be completed in February 2026, just in time for the official competitions. “A change was made in the order of intervention, because the football field had to be ready first. But, the athletics track is already in full transformation,” he detailed. At the same time, the alternate track is being remodeled, a facility of the same dimensions that will serve for warm-ups and simultaneous practices to the competitions, complying with international standards. “Both tracks have dimensions for official competitions. Although it is called the ‘warm-up track’, the alternate one is as important as the main one, and will be a priority for the preparation process of our athletes,” Monegro affirmed.Sports Palace and innovative management model
Another key space is the Virgilio Travieso Soto Sports Palace, whose renovation has been possible thanks to a branding agreement between its board of trustees and the Banco de Reservas, an institution that assumed the structural part of the work. In a second stage, the Ministry of Sports will be in charge of the equipment. “That work is also progressing well and is expected to be delivered in the first quarter of 2026,” said the president of the committee. This model of collaboration between the public and private sectors has been considered an effective way to guarantee long-term sustainability, especially if a national structure is formalized to supervise and support the boards of trustees or volunteers responsible for the maintenance of the facilities.Aquatic Center: total reconstruction and world-class standards
If there’s a facility that’s being completely transformed, it’s the Aquatic Center. “It’s practically being built from scratch to meet the new requirements of World Aquatics,” revealed Monegro. The old pool was dismantled and a completely new one is being installed, as well as a dry gym — a specialized space for off-water practices, particularly in the diving discipline — a recent technical requirement.Another novelty is the inclusion of a water timer, a technology that will allow maintaining the water temperature within the ranges established by the international federation, vital considering the Caribbean climate.
Volleyball, Weightlifting, and Gymnastics: Notable Advances
The volleyball courts, both the Palace and the Pavilion, are also being renovated. They are expected to be ready by August 2025, with an initial investment of RD$234 million, an amount that could increase due to technical adjustments and improvements not originally planned. In the Parque del Este, facilities such as those for gymnastics and weightlifting (weightlifting) are also progressing positively, even slightly ahead of schedule, which has generated optimism in the organizing team.State investment
The Dominican government has committed an investment of RD$2,948,337,610.39 for the remodeling and adaptation of sports infrastructures. These works were tendered by the MIVED in two large lots: one for the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center and another for the Parque del Este, with a total of 20 interventions.Each lot will be awarded to one or two construction consortiums, which, according to Monegro, will allow for better technical, financial, and quality control. “The goal is for all structural works to be ready in the first quarter of 2026, although some are being delivered earlier,” he pointed out.
Beyond 2026: The Maintenance Challenge
Finally, Monegro emphasized that one of the great historical challenges of the country has been the maintenance post event. Therefore, he advocates for the creation of a permanent institutional structure, perhaps from the Ministry of Sports, that coordinates the work of volunteers and boards in charge of the facilities.
“The Games should not be just a momentary showcase, but an opportunity to leave a lasting legacy. We are building facilities that will be at the level of a World Cup. The country must ensure that they are maintained that way”, he concluded.
