The Guadalajara Reporter

Pan Am Games builders still owed millions

Representatives of onstruction firms hired to work on venues for the 2011 Pan American Games demonstrated outside the state Government Palace this week demanding to be paid around 350 million pesos (29million dollars) they say they are owed.

Just before he left office in March Jalisco Governor Emilio Gonzalez negotiated a loan, part of which was to be used to pay off the government’s Pan American Games debts.

The games, held in October 2011, left debts of around 150 million dollars. In addition, the federal government chipped in with some 60 million dollars to build the athletes village on western outskirts of the city.  However, the money has yet to be recovered since the apartments cannot be sold until a legal injunction regarding the violation of environmental laws during their construction is resolved.

The constructors agreed to meet with state government representatives to discuss when the debts can be liquidated.