Guadalajara: Great Expectations for Opening of Pan-American Games

Guadalajara, Oct 14. -Great expectations on Friday surround this city on the official opening of the 16th Pan-American Games, scheduled for 8:00 pm (local time).If adverse weather conditions continue, the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO) would even delay the opening for another hour or day, because local meteorologists said rains will persist.

Depending on the rain intensity, officials already organized a plan B for the ceremony, said Bernardo de la Garza, head of the National Commission for Physical Culture and Sport (CONADE).

The greatest expectation of the ceremony is, as usual, the lighting of the torch, but also should be well-received performances by Vicente and Alejandro Fernandez, symbols of the state of Jalisco.

Other artists such as Colombian Juanes, Eugenia Leon, and bands like Mana, Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan and Nortec will also perform on Friday, while Puerto Rican Ricky Martin should be at the closing ceremony, scheduled for Oct 30. The most outstanding athletes of the Games also arrived in this city, including Brazilian swimmers Cesar Cielo Filho and Thiago Pereira, and Cuban wrestler Mijain Lopez.

As a novelty, the delegations of 42 countries attending the parade will start walking from the Pan-American village, located a few meters from the ultra-modern Omnilife Stadium, and not from inside the enclosure, as usual. (PL)