The Dominican Republic and Olympism

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1 The Dominican Republic and Olympism An extensive knowledge of Olympism is the most important factor for the progress of national sport. Juan Ulises García Saleta, 1976 Dominican sport is progressing thanks to sacrifices and in spite of the many interminable and inconceivable problems. It is progressing thanks to the increasing participation of our country s youth in the Olympic movement both as leaders and as athletes. Roque Napoleón Muñoz, 1976 DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 18,820 sq. km. 4,180,000 inhabitants. Role of the COD 1. To develop and organise the Olympic movement and encourage the Dominican youth to practise sport. 2. To respect and have respected the amateur concept as established by the International Olympic Committee and the International Federations. 3. To maintain close relations with the International Federations and with Dominican or foreign sportsmen. Creation COMITE OLlMPlCO DOMINICANO (COD) Founded in 1946, reorganised in. Recognised by the IOC in President in office: Ing. Roque Napoleón Muñoz*. Secretary General in office: Rafael Duquela Morales*. Address: Estadio Olímpico, 3er Piso, Centro Olímpico Juan Pablo Duarte, Apartado postal 406, Santo Domingo. Telephone: , Cable: Colimpidom. * See biographical notes. The COD exists in its present form since. However a National Olympic Committee was founded on the island in 1946 under the direction of engineer Frank Hatton. This Committee was responsible for the Dominican participation in the Vth Central American and Caribbean Games which were held that year in Baranquilla. In addition an Olympic Sports Commission, founded in 1953, controlled the Dominican Republic s participation in various regional games until. Mr. Luis Ruiz Trujillo was its first President. Dominican Olympism took on its present democratic form in, allowing the sports federations to elect their representatives. 406

THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC AND THE OLYMPIC GAMES Ing. Roque Napoleón Muñoz Rafael Duquela Morales Date of first participation: 1964.

Clark, IOC member in Mexico, an effective sports organisation was set up with the following basis: creation of a sports administration aimed at promoting sports education chiefly in urban districts;

2 THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC AND THE OLYMPIC GAMES Ing. Roque Napoleón Muñoz Rafael Duquela Morales Date of first participation: Under the direction of the new President, Juan Ulises García Saleta*, assisted, advised and guided by the late General José de J. Clark, IOC member in Mexico, an effective sports organisation was set up with the following basis: creation of a sports administration aimed at promoting sports education chiefly in urban districts; guaranteeing the independence of the Dominican Olympic Committee; organising the various national sports federations. This policy enabled Dominican sport to develop to such an extent that the city of Santo Domingo was awarded the organisation of the Xllth Central American and Caribbean Games in Mr. Bienvenido A. Martínez Brea was President of the Organising Committee, under the responsibility of the Dominican Olympic Committee. Successive Presidents of the COD¹ 1946: Ing. Frank Hatton : Dr. Luis Ruiz Trujillo : Juan I. Viscioso : Antonio Mañón Ramírez : Rodolfo Bonetti Burgos. : Dr. Emil Kasse Acta : Juan Ulises García Saleta*. Since 1974: Ing. Roque Napoleón Muñoz *. ¹ Until, President of the Olympic Sports Commission. Albert Torres was the first Dominican athlete to take part in the celebration of an Olympiad in Tokyo in He competed in the 100 m. In Montreal, for the first time the COD delegation included a female athlete, Divina Pastora Estrella Rincón. The Dominican Republic has never participated in the Winter Games. 407

3 Present organisation of the COD! The statutes in force were approved on 17th May 1964 by an extraordinary General Assembly of the COD.! Composition: The Dominican Olympic Committee is composed of the national sports federations.! The General Assembly constitutes the COD s supreme authority. It meets at the beginning of July every year. An extraordinary assembly may be held if necessary at any other time.! The Executive Committee, under the authority of the General Assembly, is the managing body. It is composed of a President, two Vice-Presidents, a Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer and three members, all of whom are elected by the Assembly. Representation of the Dominican Republic at the Olympic Games from 1964 to 1976¹ (1) (1) ¹ The figures in brackets represent the number of women included in the first figure. Alberto Torres at the opening of the Xllth Central American and Caribbean Games. Organisation of Games The COD successfully organised the Xllth Central American and Caribbean Games from 27th February to 13th March 1974, in which athletes from 23 countries took part. 408! Members of the present Executive Committee PT: Ing. Roque Napoleón Muñoz*; 1st VPT: Dr. Carlos Lamarche Rey; 2nd VPT: Prof. José de Jesús Sánchez; SG: Mr. Rafael Duquela Morales*; Asst. S: Ing. Hilton Cabral; T: Mr. Máximo Gómez Franco; MS: Dr. José A. Rodriguez Conde, Dr. Aldo Russo Fernández, Prof. Rolando Miranda. * See biographical notes.

! Financing of the COD THE COD AND OLYMPISM The Dominican Olympic Committee receives approximately 2,000 pesos (4,400 Swiss francs) per month from the Secretariat of State for Sport, Physical

4 ! Financing of the COD THE COD AND OLYMPISM The Dominican Olympic Committee receives approximately 2,000 pesos (4,400 Swiss francs) per month from the Secretariat of State for Sport, Physical Education and Leisure, a government sports body, covering part of the costs incurred by the exercise of its functions. In addition it sometimes receives assistance from private companies which, through an auxiliary body called the Financial Advisory Group (GAF) created at the end of 1974, give an important contribution to amateur sport. It also receives the collaboration of the municipality of the city of Santo Domingo. However the COD still cannot fulfil the social role it should because of its limited budget.! International Olympic Academy The Dominican Olympic Committee has so far never sent delegates to the Sessions of the International Olympic Academy.! Olympic Day Since 1974 the Olympic week, comprising various activities aiming to exalt and renew the ideals of Olympism, takes place in the last week of June. Olympic discussions are held throughout the country, especially in the sports and cultural clubs, and the week is completed by an Olympic dinner, at which tribute is paid to the efforts of the best Dominican athletes of the preceding year.! Federations affiliated to the COD! Publications of the COD 15 Olympic federations... Athletics Basketball Boxing Cycling Football Gymnastics Weightlifting Judo Wrestling Swimming Equestrian Shooting Archery Volleyball Yachting Since January 1976, the COD has been publishing a carefully illustrated bull etin every two months, which is distrib- Affiliation to the NOC and the federations of baseball, chess, softball, tennis, table tennis and sports medicine. uted throughout the country and abroad. * See biographical notes. 409

5 The Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Centre SPORT IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC! Other sports governing bodies The Secretariat of State for Sport, Physical Education and Recreation is a state administrative body. It is responsible for contributing the necessary funds for the execution of the federations and amateur associations programmes both as far as the sports installations and the equipment and the selection of technical personnel are concerned. It gives financial assistance to the delegations in international meetings, etc.! Sport at school The private and public schools and the universities propagate sport and physical education according to their possibilities. The education programmes comprise sports and physical education activities under the control of the Secretariat of State for Sport, Physical Education and Recreation through a corresponding body.! Sports installations According to latest statistics, there are in the Dominican Republic: 1 50 m swimming pool m swimming pools. 100 stadia. 5 athletics grounds. 5 indoor gymnasia. 1 velodrome.! Sports which draw the biggest crowds Baseball, basketball, boxing.! Sports experiencing the greatest development Baseball, volleyball, boxing, weightlifting. 410

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES Ing. Roque Napoleón Muñoz President of the Dominican Olympic Committee since 1974. A famous civil engineer, born at Villa Lobos (Montecristi) on 13th January 1928.

6 BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES Ing. Roque Napoleón Muñoz President of the Dominican Olympic Committee since A famous civil engineer, born at Villa Lobos (Montecristi) on 13th January A baseball player (1942 to 1953), he was selected for his university team in He represented his country as a talented chess player in various international competitions, and endeavoured to promote this game in Santo Domingo. In he founded the Chess Study Circle and from 1966 to 1970 was President of the Dominican Chess Federation. He is a member of the Sports Installations Commission, a consultative body of the Pan-American Sports Organisation. Juan Ulises García Saleta President of the Dominican Olympic Committee from to 1974, Honorary President of the COD, present Secretary of State for Sports, Physical Education and Recreation. Born at Santo Domingo on 25th October 1921, he may be considered as the Dominican Olympic leader most devoted to the idea symbolised by the five rings. In the 40 s he helped to found various sports clubs and construct sports grounds. In 1959, assisted by a great number of athletes, he revived Dominican basketball which had remained inactive for over ten years. In Juan Ulises García Saleta became the first President of the Dominican Olympic ¹ This centre comprises the Olympic stadium with a capacity of 25,000 spectators, the Olympic swimming pool, the sports palace, two covered gymnasia, baseball and softball pitches, tennis courts and various sports and recreation grounds. Juan Ulises García Saleta Committee. In 1966 he aroused public and government interest for 722,000 square metres of State-owned land to be made into sports fields. This idea took shape, while in 1970 he obtained Santo Domingo s nomination as host of the Xllth Central American and Caribbean Games. The grounds were used to build the remarkable Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Centre¹. Since 1974 he has paid great attention to developing the practise of sport in rural areas. Gregorio A. Dominguez H. Secretary General of the Dominican Olympic Committee from 1965 to Professor of physical education since 1943, his career as a sports leader has extended over more than 25 years. In particular, he was Secretary General of the Xllth Central American and Caribbean Games staged in Rafael Duquela Morales Member of the COD since 1970 and Secretary General since Born on 31st December 1944 in La Vega. An enthusiastic Olympic leader, he has been very active for basketball over the last five years. He took part in the Xth Central American and Caribbean Games (Puerto Rico, 1966) and the Vllth Pan-American Games (Mexico, 1975) as well as the celebration of the XXlst Olympiad in Montreal. He introduced mini-basketball into the Dominican Republic. 411

Nigeria and Olympism. President in office: Dr. Lateef O. Role of the NOC NIGERIA

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