The squabbling has ended -- at least for now. The 2003 Pan American Games open on Friday night, and this poor island nation is gearing up for carnival celebrations.
The first events are to be held on Saturday morning following an evening ceremony. Gold medals will be up for grabs in fencing, rhythmic gymnastics and shooting.
But team sports such as baseball, basketball and soccer -- also starting Saturday -- are most likely to capture the imagination of the Dominican public.
Argentina and the US will have a rematch -- of sorts -- in basketball following the South Americans' shock 87-80 victory over the Dream Team at last year's world championships in Indianapolis. This time, though, the US will field a team of college players. Many of Argentina's stars also will be missing.
In today's soccer, Mexico plays Guatemala and host Dominican Republic faces Cuba; in baseball, it's Nicaragua vs. Bahamas, Mexico vs. Brazil and US vs. Guatemala.
Before any of the action had begun, though, doping allegations surfaced on Friday -- almost as inevitable as the organizational problems for which Dominican officials felt obliged to apologize for a week in advance.
World No. 1-ranked long jumper Maurren Higa Maggi of Brazil was handed a provisional suspension by her country's athletics federation while she is investigated for possible use of anabolic steroids. She could face a two-year ban if found guilty.
Fighting back tears during a press conference, Maggi said she would never intentionally use banned steroids and will fight to protect her reputation so she can compete in the Athens Olympics.
"I want to prove I am innocent," she said.
The doping suspicion emerged after a routine test during the Brazil Trophy championship in Sao Paulo last month. Maggi might have tested positive because doctors applied a pharmaceutical cream after she received a cut during a hair removal process, her coach said.
On the eve of the opening ceremony, electrical cables were still being threaded, signs erected, installations painted. Reports swirled that the track at the Olympic Stadium might not make the cut, throwing the whole event into turmoil.
But Dominican officials now insist they have won the race against the clock.
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