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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Rough start to Brazil’s Pan Am games

Associated Press The Spokesman-Review

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – The Pan American Games got off to a sputtering start Saturday with baseball postponements and reports of a delay in televising gymnastics, one of the premier sports at the event.

Organizers postponed two baseball games – the United States vs. the Dominican Republic and Brazil against Nicaragua – after a power outage at the new venue. Lighting problems did not affect the earlier games between Panama and Cuba, and Venezuela against Mexico.

Panama upset Cuba 4-3 and Venezuela and Mexico were tied 2-2 when darkness forced a suspension of the game.

It was not the way the Brazilians wanted to begin the biggest sporting event they have hosted, particularly since they are seeking to stage the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics.

ESPN Brazil reported problems at another new venue, the Rio Multisport Arena, that led to the delay of television coverage of the men’s team gymnastics competition.

But much of the event wound up on TV.

Organizers said the delay was caused by problems with the broadcast cables inside the arena.

Basketball also is scheduled for that site, later in the games.

The U.S. baseball team of college players has not played since July 8 and was eager to get started. The postponement left the team scrambling for a practice facility.

The opening ceremony was accompanied by a few problems Friday night at the famed Maracana Stadium, but it was a spectacular show. The ceremony began late with many seats empty, and hundreds of would-be participants stuck in lines stretching for blocks outside, waiting to pass through metal detectors and inspection.