Athletes who won more than one medal will receive the corresponding incentive for each one
SANTO DOMINGO.– After accumulating 150 medals at the XXV Central American and Caribbean Games recently held in the country, the Government announced yesterday that it will increase incentives for the Dominican athletes who starred in the competition and who helped the Dominican Republic achieve its best results ever in a similar event.
President Luis Abinader hosted a luncheon for the group of athletes on Wednesday, where he announced that, starting in 2027, all medalists from the Santo Domingo 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games will be incorporated into the High Performance, New Values and Immortals Athletes Program (PARNI), whose funds will also be doubled to increase the incentives that athletes receive.
The meeting, which was also attended by Vice President Raquel Peña, was held in the Las Cariátides Hall of the National Palace, where the president acknowledged the performance of the national delegation and highlighted the results achieved during the sporting event.
He highlighted that the Dominican delegation achieved its best performance ever at the Central American and Caribbean Games, setting a record both in the number of gold medals and in the total number of medals won, with a harvest of 150 medals.
The head of state affirmed that the inclusion of the medalists in the Parni program and the increase in funds allocated to the program constitute a recognition of the effort, discipline, and dedication demonstrated by Dominican athletes during the two weeks of competition.
He also indicated that the Government will work together with sports federations and volunteer organizations to ensure the care and maintenance of the sports facilities built and improved for athletes, considering that they represent an investment made with resources from the Dominican people.
The president explained that volunteer mechanisms will be established to help preserve these spaces, so that athletes can continue training and developing in top-level sports facilities.
Recognizes the organization of the Games
During his speech, President Abinader also acknowledged the work done by the Santo Domingo 2026 Organizing Committee and highlighted that, according to the assessments received at the national and international levels, the Games were among the best organized in the history of this regional competition.
The president appreciated that the development of skills and logistics functioned efficiently, which allowed the Dominican Republic to project a good image as the host country.
RD$77.5 million for prizes
The Minister of Sports, Kelvin Cruz , reported that 77.5 million RD were deposited into the account of the Dominican Olympic Committee (COD) corresponding to the prizes of the medal-winning athletes, coaches and federations linked to the results obtained in Santo Domingo 2026.
Cruz explained that the awards system is cumulative, so athletes who win more than one medal will receive the corresponding incentive for each one. She cited Liranyi Alonso, winner of four gold medals, as an example; Alonso will receive RD$1.2 million in prizes.
The president was accompanied by the Minister of the Presidency, Andrés Bautista, and the Minister of Housing and Buildings (Mivhed), Víctor Bisonó; the president of the Organizing Committee of the XXV Central American and Caribbean Games, José P. Monegro; of Centro Caribe Sports, Luisín Mejía , and of the National Women's Volleyball Teams Project, Cristóbal Marte Hoffiz, as well as representatives of the Olympic movement and sports leaders.
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