Washington, D.C.– The atrium of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) headquarters was the setting for the new photo showcase of the book “GLORIES: Going for the Gold” and “The Inclusion Games,” part of the formal commencement of the 25th Dominican Week in US (SemDomUSA), an initiative led by the American Chamber of Commerce of the Dominican Republic (AmChamDR).
The showcase is based on the most recent publications by INICIA, launched in December 2016, rendering tribute to the Olympic, Pan-American and Paralympic national athletes. Both publications were created to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the foundation of the Dominican Olympic Committee.
During the activity, the chairman and managing partner of INICIA, Felipe Vicini, made reference to the showcase as “our effort to distinguish those heroes that make our nation proud in every competition that they represent their country. Because it is our Olympic Glories, who are the true protagonists of this story.” Vicini also explained to all attendees how the CRESO program works, investing directly in 78 high-performance athletes, all of them Dominican-born, and the reason why a meeting was held between the IDB and Georgetown University, with hopes to expand the CRESO program.
Olympic medalist Gabriel Mercedes spoke midway through the event, expressing his gratitude on behalf of all Dominican athletes for this recognition abroad. “WE ARE PROUD TO BE PART OF CRESO, and see how our stories are being told by way of this showcase in Washington; this must serve as motivation for all athletes headed towards greatness, so that they continue striving to achieve their Olympic dream,” Mercedes said during his speech.
Roberto Herrera, Head of the SemDomUSA Organizational Committee, thanked INICIA one more time for its annual efforts to include a cultural component in the agenda, to the IDB, for embracing the showcase, and the Dominican Embassy for working on the setup and organization of the activity.
Ambassador José Tomás Pérez also congratulated CRESO for its initiative in rendering tribute to the success of these athletes, their sacrifice and passion, and their dedication to representing the nation in these competitions.
Present at the inaugural act were the MFA of D.R.,Ing. Miguel Vargas Maldonado; José Tomás Pérez, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Dominican Republic in the U.S., Gedeón Santos, Ambassador to the Dominican Republic before the OAS, Carlos Pared Vidal, Alterning Executive Director to Mexico and the Dominican Republic of the IDB, David Collado, Mayor of the National Distrcit; José del Castillo, Chairman of the Board of Directors to the Dominican Telecommunications Institute (INDOTEL); Gabriel Mercedes, Olympic Medalist, Pekin 2008.
The exhibit will remain open to the public until May 19th. “This will allow hundreds of people from different countries and nationalities, including the Dominican diaspora in D.C, to learn more about our Olympic Glories, their history, and to appreciate the fine work that everyone involved in this book achieved as result,” Vicini concluded.
For 25 years, Dominican Week in the U.S. has highlighted the values of Dominican patriotism in prestigious scenarios of the business, cultural, academic and political sectors. The activity contributes to enhancing the international reputation of the nation and its people throughout an intense activities program that gathers key personalities.
SEMDOMUSA is sponsored by Barrick, Citi, Claro Dominicana, Marítima Dominicana, Grupo RICA, Squire, Patton & Boggs, Bepensa, INICIA, Martí PG, Humano Seguros, Banco Popular, CESPM, CXO Consulting, Haina International Terminal- HIT, Banco BHD-León, Mercado Media Network, Lift Air Group, Latin American Free Zone- PIISA, the Quisqueya Binational Economic Council (*Consejo Económico Binacional Quisqueya (CEBQ), Jiménez Cruz Peña Attorneys, Gerdau Metaldom, The Central Bank of the Dominican Republic, Grupo Punta Cana, Línea Clave, MITUR and Delta Airlines. Also AES Dominicana, Hanes Caribe, Aerodom, Seaboard, Central Romana Corporation, ProCigar, Rizek Cacao, the Inter-American Development Bank, the D.R Embassy in D.C, AmCham, the Consulate General of the D.R in New York, the World Bank Group and the National Supermarket Association.
SOURCE: elnacional.com.do
