ACAPULCO, Guerrero .- The Third Convention of Pan-American Sports, which is presided by Mr. Mario Vázquez Raña, was inaugurated this morning by Felipe Calderon Hinojosa, president of México, who informed that at 2010, this country will organize the Olympic Festival of the Bicentenary, in the framework of the celebrations of the 200th anniversary of the independence of México.

In the ceremony where were also presents Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC); Zeferino Torreblanca, governor of Guerrero State; Carlos Hermosillo, principal of the National Commission of the Sport (CONADE, by his abbreviation in Spanish), and Félix Salgado Macedonio, Major of Acapulco; Calderón assured that the celebration of the Olympic Festival will bring to Mexico the best athletes, and will reinforce the efforts that his government is doing, to give to the sport apriority place.

There, Mr. Mario Vázquez Raña thanked to Jacques Rogge for the opportunity of realize in Acapulco, at 2010, the next Assembly of the National Olympic Committees Association (NOCA), and reaffirmed his compromise to reach agreements between governments and Olympic organisms, "to put our grain of sand to initiate this transformation that sport needs".

Mr. Vázquez Raña assured that America "will be one of the pillars of a big union, with mutual respect, between the Olympic Movement and governments", and an example to the other continents. He also thanked to the presidents of México and IOC, because they presences help and fortify the agreements that is hoping to reach.

The president of IOC said that the Olympic Movement coincides with governments in the objectives of bring to all the people the access to the sport, support athletes and fight against doping.

He expressed his hope that in this Convention will be achieve "the needed consensus to face the big challenge that NOCs and governments have".

During the ceremony was also remember the 40th anniversary of the inauguration of the Olympic Games México 1968, and handed to the presidents of PASO, IOC and México a commemorating medal.