Government reinforces support for athletes after historic performance in Santo Domingo 2026
The Dominican Republic lived a golden chapter in its sports history during the Santo Domingo 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games. The national delegation not only shone in the medal table, but also set an unprecedented milestone by reaching a total haul of 150 medals, surpassing all previous records in the number of gold medals and in the overall count.
In recognition of this extraordinary effort, President Luis Abinader announced significant measures to strengthen the well-being and development of the athletes. Starting in 2027, all athletes who reached the podium at the regional event will be integrated into the High-Performance, New Values, and Immortals Athlete Program (PARNI). Furthermore, the funds allocated to this program will be doubled to increase the financial incentives received by the athletes.
The incorporation into PARNI and the increase in funding represent a well-deserved recognition of the discipline, dedication, and effort demonstrated by our athletes during these two weeks of intense competition.
Luis Abinader, President of the Republic
Investment in awards and sports sustainability
The Minister of Sports, Kelvin Cruz, confirmed that RD$77.5 million has already been deposited into the accounts of the Dominican Olympic Committee (COD). These funds are intended for the awards of the medal-winning athletes, their coaches, and the corresponding federations. Cruz highlighted that the award scheme is cumulative, allowing athletes with multiple medals to receive incentives for each achievement reached.
- Recognition of success: The incentive rewards both individual effort and the technical work of the federations.
- Example of success: Outstanding athletes, such as Liranzo Alonso —who won four gold medals—, will receive incentives proportional to their brilliant performance.
Beyond monetary awards, the Government has outlined a roadmap for the preservation of sports infrastructure. President Abinader emphasized that volunteer mechanisms will be created to ensure the maintenance of the facilities built and remodeled for the games, describing them as a valuable heritage of the Dominican people that must remain in optimal conditions for future generations.
A world-class event
The president took advantage of the meeting at the National Palace to congratulate the Santo Domingo 2026 Organizing Committee. According to international assessments, the games were classified as one of the best-organized events in the history of this regional competition, highlighting the logistical efficiency and the Dominican Republic’s ability to project an impeccable image to the world.
For his part, the president of the Dominican Olympic Committee, Garibaldy Bautista, thanked the government for its support. Bautista stressed that the previous financial support was key to the successful preparation of the delegation and expressed his optimism that, with the continuation of this backing, the country will be able to surpass the results obtained in this edition by 2030.
