The opening ceremony of the Pan American Games on Friday evening may be rescheduled due to the torrential downpours that have saturated Guadalajara as a result of Hurricane Jova striking the Jalisco coastline this week.

Set to include live performances by Tapatio rock band Mana and Colombian pop star Juanes, the inauguration of the games is the event most threatened by persistent rainfall. Due to take place in the open-air, 48,000-capacity Omnilife Stadium, it could face alterations or even be suspended.

“I know that we will have to modify the program of the opening ceremony a little. I hope that it can still go ahead because there has been a great effort by the Organizing Committee to ensure Mexico has a good image before the world and the television cameras,” said Bernardo de la Garza, director of Mexico’s National Commission for Physical Culture and Sport (CONADE).

Carlos Andrade Garin, the director of the organizing committee, said the decision lies not with him, but the Pan American Sports Organization (ODEPA). “I don’t have the slightest idea,” he admitted. “ODEPA must decide … surely they will be thinking of something.”

Andrade also noted these problems are not unprecedented. Four years ago in Rio de Janeiro, "it rained for the last four days and the closing ceremony was waterlogged," he said.

Normally held in the summer, the Pan American Games were moved to October this year to avoid Mexico’s rainy season. However, it seems the autumnal hurricane season was not factored into this decision.

Jalisco Governor Emilio Gonzalez said earlier this week that Hurricane Jova would not affect the games, as it would have passed completely by Thursday. This statement now seems premature, with forecasters predicting a 60 percent chance of rain in Guadalajara on Friday.

Watersports, which take place in Puerto Vallarta, could also be adversely affected by the consequences of severe weather. As the storm approached earlier this week, workers rushed to place protective sandbags around the beach volleyball stadium in Puerto Vallarta.