Judo at The Pan American Games - Concerns and Controversies - Athletes' Village

Athletes' Village

The athletes' village was behind schedule for the entire time it was been under construction, and in May 2011, about five months before the start of the games, a judge ordered the construction of the facility to stop, because inhabitants of the town of Zapopan claimed that the construction would affect their drinking water supply. The director of the organizing committee, Carlos Andrade Garin, said a 10-day construction delay would mean the event would have to be canceled.

According to Garin, "we have some crabs who don't like our state to grow, who don't like us having a great event, whose own related interests are more important than those of the community. Unfortunately, you can't do anything against this kind of people, except get on with our own job."

Governor of Jalisco Emilio González Márquez said the legal action was brought about by political rivals who objected to the amount of money being spent on the event.

After many delays, organizers finally asserted that the athletes' village would be finished no later than September, only a month before the games were to begin. The village was expected to be handed over to COPAG by August 22, 2011.