The Pan American Sports Organization (ODEPA) approved on Thursday of the implementation of temporary sailing structure for the Pan American Games.

The decision removed the threat to cancel all sailing competitions during the event, which will be held in Rio de Janeiro in July.

ODEPA said that it will exceptionally accept the temporary structure, because of the judicial impasse concerning the construction of a boathouse at Rios bayside. Federal laws protect the Marina da Gloria, where all sailing contests will take place, from constructions that may change its original features, as it is part of Brazils historical and artistic heritage.

The Pan Am Games Organizing Committee (Co-Rio) decided to give up the initial project, which followed Olympic standards but whose implementation had been paralyzed since Sept. 2006. With little time to go until the opening of the Games, Co-Rio chose to build temporary structures at the bayside last week, but ODEPA promptly refused the proposal and threatened to prevent sailing contests from happening. However, ODEPAs President Mario Vazquez Rana sent a letter to Co-Rio, authorizing the implementation of the second-choice structure, but reinforcing that the committee should continue to fight in court for the original project.

This decision is fundamental in order to protect the interests and expectations of the athletes of that sport, who, in the past few years, have been preparing with great effort to represent their countries in Americas most important Olympic event, stated ODEPAs document.

Source: Xinhua