February 4, 2002 - Vol. 5

Barquisimeto, Venezuela

From January 15 to 21st, 2002, I was in Barquisimeto, Venezuela to inspect the venues for the upcoming the 2nd Panamerican Track & Field for Deaf Youth Championship to be held during the week of August 17 to 24, 2002. I met with representatives of the Counsel of National Persons Intergration (CONAPI), they treated me very well during my stay. They covered my expenses such as: accommodation, meals as well as travel to visit the different villages as well as the Deaf School. It was a challenging experience to
pick up new sign language in Spanish and meeting new people. Yes, this was truly an experience of a lifetime. I want to acknowledge my appreciation to CONAPI and FVEPOSOR for their kind hospitality.

I was happy to meet Maria de Bendeguz - President of the Venezuela Deaf Sports Federation. She picked me up at the Airport Barquisimeto, it is very beautiful village of the Barquisimeto similar Winnipeg. We drove to visit the Institution Education Privacy " Maria Melendez de Garcia " and Hotel Hosteria El Obelisco in Barquisimeto, it is the one best closest to Villa Bolivariana, they have nurses, first aid, massauses and trainers plus service such as: photocopies, press media room, photograph, cafeteria, and 50
buses. They will offer us the use of laundry, 6 cellular phones and internet e-mail.

Hotel Hosteria El Obelisco have very nice rooms, they have two double beds, three single beds, four single beds and five single beds, swimming pool, park, rent-a-car, air-conditioned, color TV and overseas channels, gift shop, news-stand, terraza bar, restaurant and beauty parlor.

Villa Bolivariana (4 Blocs to similar Hotel for the dorms), they have 2 to 8 bunk beds, shower and cafetria but no swimming pool. They offered us the services of two busses while we stay with them. If we decide to look for accommodations else-where we may not receive the same services as the Hotel Hosteria El Obelisco. This means, CDSA would be responsible for extra expenses.
Therefore I booked 11 rooms at the Hotel Hosteria El Obelisco as we only have six months to plan for this event. They will provide free of charge, two meals (lunch and supper) per day at Villa Bolivariana also we will receive free bottled water everyday to and they have special drama every night.

The competition is name " Maximo Viloria ", we will ride from Hotel Hosteria El Obelisco to Maximo Viloria approximately a 10 minute ride. The synthetic is very nice color green and blue with a 50 Meter swimming pool, there have many showers and plenty of lockers.

The Pan-Am Committee decided to have only one events Track & Field, they cancelled basketball although Maria de Bendeguz did ask other countries. The Committee had a difficult decision to decide which events to choose, soccer, basketball or volleyball, this created a problem so that they decided to select only Track & Field. This means that the event is called the 2nd Panamerican Track & Field for Deaf Youth Championship. Also, Maria want to add a 400 meters for the ages 12 - 13 old year categories.

The Pan-Am Committee plans to add Marathons (3 kilometers) for all athletes. This means for Canada, we should encourage all athletes to participate in the Marathon. This would provide Canadian Deaf Youth a great life-time experience.

The Pan-Am Committee would like Canada to send a Champion Swimming Team of Deaf youth. This would be a demonstration event. I will discuss this issue with CDSA Board, once a decision is made, will inform all PDSA who may be interest to send a Canadian Swim Team to the 2nd PanAmerican Deaf Youth Games as a demonstration event.

Venezuela Deaf Sports Federation and Host Committee for the 2nd Panamerican Track & Field for Deaf Youth Championship hope to have 15 countries to form the Pan-Am:(Argentine, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, Chili, Colombia, Guatemala, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, USA and Venezuela) this does not include Cuba. There are 8 countries (Argentine, Canada, Chili, Cuba, Mexico, Uruguay, USA and Venezuela) that are affiliated to the Pan-Am. Since CISS requires at least 10
countries, they hope to have more than 16 countries affiliated with the Pan-Am Games in the future.

The 2nd Panamerican Track & Field for Deaf Youth Championship ceremony will officially open on Saturday August 17, 2002 at 7:00 p.m. and the closing ceremony on August 24, 2002 will be announce at a later date. There will be no charge for spectators to attend the Games. Also there is no charge for participants to attend the banquet. CDSA will pay the $15 USD registration fee to Pan-Am for each Canadian athletes, coaches and officials.

The Pan-Am Committee will hosts meeting/workshop from August 14 to 17, 2002 with CISS, Mr. John Lovett and Donalda Ammons representing CISS will be attending.

All Athletes, Coaches, Trainers and supporters are encourage not to bring $USD because there is a problem to exchange to $Bolivar in Barquisimeto. CDSA encourage all Canadians to get their Canadian funds exchange to $Bs (Bolivars) here before they go to Barquisimeto.

Gigi Fiset, CDSA - Administrative Secretary