USOC concerned about drug war ahead of Pan Am Games

ATLANTA, (Reuters) – The United States Olympic  Committee promised yesterday to have a security plan in place  before sending athletes to the Pan American Games this year in  Guadalajara, which is engulfed in a deepening drug war.
The violence in Mexico’s second biggest city has raised  concerns about Guadalajara’s ability to host thousands of  athletes and tens of thousands of fans from across the Americas  at the Oct. 14-30 Pan American Games.
“We talked a lot about the Pan Am Games,” Scott Blackmun,  the USOC’s chief executive, told reporters at the end of a  board meeting yesterday.
“Everyone is quite aware of the violence, we’re obviously  concerned about it but at the end of the day we will have a  good security plan in place to protect our athletes.”
The buildup to the Pan Am Games has been marred by violence  as drug cartels battle for control of the host city.
Guadalajara has been the scene of escalating fighting with  gangs attacking bars, police stations, hijacking cars and  blocking major roads and highways.
“On Thursday I am headed to Guadalajara for a two-day  meeting and I am sure that security will be one of the  significant issues that will be discussed,” said USOC Chairman  Larry Probst. “At that meeting we will hear from the Pan Am  Games organising committee what their plans are.”
At the Pan-Am Games, held every four years, 42 countries  will compete in 36 sports ranging from basketball to fencing  and swimming.