The 21st Central American and Caribbean Games (Spanish: XXI Juegos Centroamericanos y del Caribe, Mayagüez 2010) took place in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, from 18 July 2010 to 1 August 2010.

Bid It was understood that Mayagüez was going to be the only city to ask to hold the games, so that there was going to be no need for a vote in the assembly held in Havana, Cuba in 2004. But the organizers found that Guatemala would present a bid of their own. The vote was held on 15 May 2005 with Mayagüez winning.

2010 Central American and Caribbean Games bidding results City Country CACSO votesMayagüez, Puerto Rico22Guatemala City16

Trademark and athletes "Mayagüez 2010" marks the third (3) time Puerto Rico hosts the Central American and Caribbean Games, the other being San Juan in 1966, and Ponce in 1993. The city of Mayagüez had been selected previously to hold the games in 1982, but economic problems forced the city to quit the organization, and the games were held in La Habana, Cuba. A total of 4,965 athletes participated in 39 sports to be held all across Puerto Rico, Colombia, Guatemala, and Guyana.

Symbols The mascots and the logo for the games were selected unanimously amongst other candidates by a jury in 2007.

Mascots Mayi and Magüe were selected as the mascots for the Games. They are a modern illustration of the Central American flame as a girl and a boy. The colors grant harmony and consistence with Mayagüez 2010's logo. Merchandise including shirts, stuffed animal, stickers and other merchandise has been created with the mascots.

Brand logo The official logo, includes two "M" letters, one in green representing the city's hills and the blue one representing the city's pure waters. The double Ms also serve as a flame cauldron, which on top has a flame representing the Olympic flame and the sunset, which also characterizes the city of Mayagüez. The official logo was designed by Abner Gutiérrez and Mayra Maldonado of IDGroup, San Juan PR.

Official sports pictograms The official sports pictograms were created inspired in the official logo design. These pictograms were designed by Abner Gutiérrez and Jorge Colón of IDGroup, San Juan PR.

Organization and reception Initial public reaction noted that the organization of the event would be an important economic injection to the municipality, although the costs of organizing it would be higher that originally expected. Prior to the games, pro-statehood Governor Luis Fortuño pursued restrictions on the Cuban visas pursuant to the Helms–Burton Act. In response, the nation withdrew from the event.

After the project's original budget failed to cover all of the projects, the Mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Jorge Santini, insisted that the aquatics sports should be moved to San Juan Natatorium. This was supported by the Fortuño, who also suggested branching several other sports, including boxing and football, to other municipalities, most of them led by his political party. However, David Bernier, head of Puerto Rico Olympic Committee, decided to not get involved in the controversy, leaving the decision in the hands of Central American and Caribbean Sports Organization (CASCO). Mayagüez's mayor, José Guillermo Rodríguez, firmly opposed this suggestion, citing that the athletes' quarters are located in that municipality, which would mean more investment in security and transportation. In addition Felipe Muñoz, president of the Mexican Olympic Committee and a former swimmer himself, concurred, commenting that "they must swim in Mayagüez" on behalf of a commission sent to represent CASCO.

Torch relay "Mayagüez 2010"

The Central American and Caribbean flame was lighted on Friday, 25 June 2010, at the Teotihuacán Pyramids in Mexico by indigenous priests. Mexico has the distinction of being the traditional seat of the lighting of the flame for the CAC games since it was the host of the first games in 1926. At the ceremony a Puerto Rican delegation traveled to Mexico, composed of Henry Neumann, secretary of Sports and Recreation, David Bernier, head of Puerto Rico Olympic Committee, Felipe Pérez, president of the organizing Committee and José Guillermo Rodríguez, mayor of Mayagüez.

The flame arrived in Puerto Rico and the torch relay went across all 78 municipalities for 22 days and ended its route on 18 July when the games were inaugurated and the fire was placed at the Central American and Caribbean Games cauldron. The governor of Puerto Rico, Luis Fortuño, received the torch at Rafael Hernández Airport in Aguadilla. The first runner in the relay was Puerto Rican golfer Miguel Suárez. The relay began 27 June and went through Aguada, Rincón, Añasco and Las Marías that day. The next day the relay continued through San Sebastián, Moca, Isabela y Quebradillas. By 6 July the torch reached San Juan, where it was received by Richard Carrion, member of the International Olympic Committee in the Milla de Oro. Accompanying the torch and the different runners was a caravan of different official cars, trucks and buses that followed the torch across the island. On 18 July the flame arrived at the Central American and Caribbean Games in time for the opening ceremony.

Games

Opening ceremony

Cervecera de Puerto Rico organized a pre-opening act on 15 July 2010 at their renovated facilities in Mayagüez. The act had the participation of Dutch DJ and musician Tiësto as well as several local disc-jockeys.

The official opening ceremony was scheduled to take place on 17 July 2010 at the Mayagüez Central American Stadium. Artists Olga Tañón, Gilberto Santa Rosa and Wisin & Yandel were among some of the performers for the event. (trans: Olga Tañón and Gilberto Santa Rosa will be at the opening of Mayagüez 2010), published by EFE on 2010-06-26. Retrieved 2010-07-08.

On 17 July 2010, at around 12:00 pm, strong wind gusts in the region caused the collapse of the scaffolding of lights at the Stadium, resulting in property damage and seven people injured. Although witnesses and media reported the event as a tornado or waterspout, the National Weather Service later described it as extremely high winds. Police units, local and state emergency vehicles and paramedics quickly responded to the alert and within minutes had the situation under control. That same afternoon, at 2:30, the organizing committee (COMAZ) of the "Juegos Centroamericanos y del Caribe – Mayagüez 2010" announced at a press conference the postponement of the opening ceremony for the next day, 18 July 2010.ADENDI. Elnuevodia.com (17 July 2010).

At the opening ceremony, Fortuño (expecting to be booed like Carlos Romero Barceló and Pedro Rosselló before him) decided not to give the protocolary speech and only declared the inauguration of the games. The group Nota sang the Puerto Rico regional anthem in the opening ceremony. After the parade of all delegations, Olga Tañón opened the show with a performance that featured over 30 dancers and a fireworks display. When raising the flag of the city of Mayaguez, the "Mayagüezanos", Chucho Avellanet and Hilda Ramos (soprano-opera singer) sang the anthem of Mayagüez. Jose Guillermo Rodriguez mayor of Mayagüez spoke, followed by Felipe Perez president of the organizing committee, then by Hector Cardona president of ODECABE. Immediately after Hector Cardona finished talking, Luis Fortuño, Governor of Puerto Rico declared the games officially opened. Gilberto Santa Rosa performed, followed by Nestor Torres, then Bernie Williams, and afterward Wisin & Yandel also gave a performance.Los Juegos Centroamericanos, con una inauguraciĂłn tardĂa y cifra rĂŠcord de participantes – Archivo – Archivo Digital de Noticias de Colombia y el Mundo desde 1.990 – eltiem . Eltiempo.com. It was the first time in the history of the Central American and Caribbean Games that athletes parades in an opening ceremony with medals already won.

Sports

Racquetball ()

Roller skating ()

Closing ceremony

The 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games closing ceremony took place on 1 August 2010 on the Estadio Centro Americano. The event began a few hours late because of rain. The event included different musical acts of different musicians. The first musical presentation was by Mayagüezano Chucho Avellanet who performed "Sueño Antillano" with Claudina Brinn. Afterward Ana Isabelle performed her interpretation of the song Wavin' Flag. She was followed by José Nogueras who, accompanied by dozens of dancers sang "Antillano" and "También Centroamericano". Salsa music was also present as Richie Ray & Bobby Cruz performed "Sonido Bestial" and "Mi Bandera". Tito El Bambino also sang "El Amor" and "Te Pido Perdón" as fireworks illuminated the night sky. At the end of the night, Veracruz, host of the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games gave a performance with interpretation of Mexican artists such as the folkloric ballet of Fandango and Olicia. As part of the Veracruz presentation the Papantla Flyers presented their ritual which has its roots in the pre-Hispanic period.Clausuran Mayagüez con la vista puesta en Veracruz. E-consulta.com.

Medal table

Participant countries

Out of the thirty-two nations that are members of the Central American and Caribbean Sports Organization (CASCO), thirty-one countries participated at the games. Cuba decided not to attend. . Mayaguez2010.com. CountryAthletes. Retrieved 1 August 2010.Sports. Retrieved 1 August 2010.Flagbearer 15 6 James Grayman 32 9 Stuart Achl y Gilbert 78 8 Cynthia Rahming 162 23 Bradley Ally 13 5 Shalini Zabaneh 60 10 Roy Allen Burol 30 7 Darrel Christopher 39 8 Jessica McTagart 259 32 Natalia Sánchez 162 30 Verania Willis 8 2 Brenda Williams 491 38 Brenda Castillo 274 30 Pamela Benítez 11 3 Ayesha Noel 420 40 Kevin Cordón 66 10 Tricia FiedtkouCassia/Igloo outfit women’s hockey team at CAC : Kaieteur News. Kaieteurnewsonline.com. 69 10 Joseph Moise 75 18 Karen Vilorio 170 15 Alia Atkinson 681 45 Oscar Valdez 99 13 Anne-Marie Pietersz 144 16 Rigoberto Calderón 171 20 Eileen Grench 649 41 Jose Juan Barea 14 2 Tanika Liburd 20 5 Danielle Beaubrun 19 5 14 6 Chinyere Pigot 235 24 94 11 493 38 Mariana González

Venues

Most of the events will be held in the west coast, known as Porta del Sol, with 4 events held elsewhere around the island, five in Colombia, one in Guatemala, and one in Guyana. In order to establish the caliber of the event, Holland Group, the company in charge of the Port of Mayagüez purchased "Birth of a New World", a statue measuring 350 feet in height and depicting Christopher Columbus by Russian-Georgian sculptor Zurab Tsereteli. Although bought a decade earlier by the municipality of Cataño, the monument could not be assembled there due to concerns with air traffic. Tony Jacobs, the port's administrator, explained that after structural evaluation, the group expects to assemble the statue in time for the Central American and Caribbean Games. In their inform to the ODECABE, the project's technical direction presented the advancements in construction as well as the dates of construction and expected completion. The Press Center for the games will be located in the UPRM College of Business Administration building. Some of the most important projects created for the games are the Olimpic Villa and the Parque del Litoral.

Mayagüez VenueCapacitySports ImageEstadio Centro Americano de Mayagüez 13,000Track and field, Football (soccer)RUM Natatorium3,250Swimming, Water polo, Synchronized swimming, DivingPalacio de Recreación y Deportes6,000Basketball, VolleyballIsidoro García Stadium12,000BaseballEl Mani Pavilion 2,500HandballRafael A. Mangual Coliseum4,500BoxingRUM Racquetball Courts 850RacquetballRUM Tennis Courts 3,250TennisSantiago Llorens Stadium 900Softball

Porta del Sol