The Odesur Games event includes 34 disciplines and 5,000 athletes from both South and Central America. It requires a lot of organization, infrastructure and also many volunteers. It will take place from October 1 to 15 and will require an investment of almost US$ 80 million, with resources from the National Government.
In recent weeks, the organizers have been the target of criticism due to the slow progress of the infrastructure works, considering that we are only five months away from the start.
Víctor Pecci, former Minister of Sports during the Government of Horacio Cartes, analyzes the organization. He points out that, if he had been in charge of the project, he would have already started working in 2018, and that the works would already be finished six months before the opening.
Last year he expressed concern about the state’s lack of interest in the organization. Do you still have the same opinion?
This event was accepted in the government of Cartes. The compromise was accepted. Then, in 2019, a statement came out from the current government announcing that it would not be carried out, then they changed their minds again.
Then came the inconvenience of last year that the necessary items to carry out were not put in the General Budget of the Nation (PGN), which was reversed again when the parliamentarians returned the resources. From there it took the necessary momentum, and they put their legs on the accelerator. Many infrastructures have already been built before and others are being built now. The private sector will also be used for tennis, golf and soccer. But there are around four or five disciplines that Paraguay does not have very developed and those stadiums are being built right now.
What is your overall opinion of the organization?
At the moment, intense work is being done. Against the clock, unfortunately because we can risk not arriving on time in the organization of this event. I think it will come, but if it were me, I would have done things a little earlier, already in previous years, not failing two years. First of all, do the work on time. In the same way, I think that from now on the work is being done and now the batteries have been put in place, the budget is there and it is a matter of working intensely until October, which is the start date of these games.
When you say that if you were in charge, you would have organized much earlier, you show your concern…
This is on a personal level. If I assumed the commitment, in 2018 I would have already started working. Because it is very big, you need to advance little by little year after year. Go making the stadiums that you lack, look for volunteers, transportation. In short, there are too many things. Also accommodation for 5,000 to 6,000 people. There are many things that have to be put together and logically, if I had made the commitment, I would not have canceled it and then I return to it, then I cancel it and return to it again. That’s my point of view. So to get calmer, I would have done that, or else I wouldn’t have been able to sleep at night. Thinking that I have the games and that we are in May and that the infrastructure is being built and that the other is missing. I would not be calm, it is my way of working. I also don’t know what problem the government may have had in terms of budget. But hey, you have to put faith in it and I think that now it’s on the right track and it’s going to get there, with suffering, but it’s going to get there.
In an ideal scenario, how soon should it be finished?
I would tell you six months before. Because you have to try all of them. Sports equipment from the United States, Europe, and Spain also have to arrive. What one needs besides the infrastructure. The Odesur games must be finished between 3 to 6 months before to test the facilities. That would be ideal for one to be calm and know that everything is in order.
We received the information that there are few volunteers, what do you think about it?
I am not receiving information from anywhere. Only my information guided me by the newspapers. Logically I can tell you that the issue of volunteers is quite an issue because 4,000 are needed and Paraguay is not used to events like these. The only time that amount was reached was when the pope came. As we do not have the experience of these big events, people are not used to developing these volunteering activities. I would not be able to tell you if the demands are very high since I do not have any communication with the organizational part.
VILLAR
Filemón Villar, taekwondo master and former national taekwondo player, expressed that he sees the organization with indignation. Since there is a lot of laziness and irresponsibility of the organizers.
“Months before the Asución 2022 South American Games, we still do not have the sports facilities so that a team or group of athletes that are going to represent us can train. Such a big and important event. The boys should already be training where the tournament will take place. That is why I tell you that for me this will be a failure in terms of sports results, ”he warned.
He stated that the State, through the National Sports Secretariat (SND) and the Paraguayan Olympic Committee (COP) are responsible for this situation.
“I sincerely hope that it arrives. So that the image of the country as an organizer leaves the best impressions. But there is a disbelief in the process. An infrastructure that has not been completed for months, athletes who do not train as they should and other irregularities”, he commented.
MORE DETAILS
The Odesur games will take place in two venues; in the Olympic Park and in the National Sports Secretariat (SND).
In the Olympic Park, progress must be made in the venues of the National Speed Skating Center, the Olympic Velodrome, the National Hockey Center, the Sports Shooting Pavilion, among others.
