USOC Promise Security Plan Ahead of Pan Am Games

The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) has promised to have a security plan in place before sending athletes to the Pan American Games this year in Guadalajara, which is engulfed in a deepening drug war.

Guadalajara’s ability to host thousands of athletes and tens of thousands of fans from across the Americas at the October 14-30 Pan American Games has been thrown into doubt over fears with regards to the violence in Mexico‘s second biggest city.

Scott Blackmun, the USOC’s chief executive, told reporters at the end of a board meeting on Tuesday, March 15: “We talked a lot about the Pan Am Games.

“Everyone is quite aware of the violence, we’re obviously concerned about it but at the end of the day we will have a good security plan in place to protect our athletes.”

The buildup to the Pan Am Games has been marred by violence as drug cartels battle for control of the host city.

Guadalajara has been the scene of escalating fighting with gangs attacking bars, police stations, hijacking cars and blocking major roads and highways.

USOC Chairman Larry Probst added: “On Thursday I am headed to Guadalajara for a two-day meeting and I am sure that security will be one of the significant issues that will be discussed. At that meeting we will hear from the Pan Am Games organizing committee what their plans are.”