The 21st Central American and Caribbean Games (Spanish: XXI Juegos Centroamericanos y del Caribe, Mayagüez 2010) took place in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, from 18 July 2010 to 1 August 2010.
Bid
It was understood that Mayagüez was going to be the only city to ask to hold the games, so that there was going to be no need for a vote in the assembly held in Havana, Cuba in 2004. But the organizers found that Guatemala would present a bid of their own. The vote was held on 15 May 2005 with Mayagüez winning.
Trademark and athletes
"Mayagüez 2010" marks the third (3) time Puerto Rico hosts the Central American and Caribbean Games, the other being San Juan in 1966, and Ponce in 1993. The city of Mayagüez had been selected previously to hold the games in 1982, but economic problems forced the city to quit the organization, and the games were held in La Habana, Cuba. A total of 4,965 athletes participated in 39 sports to be held all across Puerto Rico, Colombia, Guatemala, and Guyana.
Symbols
The mascots and the logo for the games were selected unanimously amongst other candidates by a jury in 2007.
Mascots
Mayi and Magüe were selected as the mascots for the Games. They are a modern illustration of the Central American flame as a girl and a boy. The colors grant harmony and consistence with Mayagüez 2010's logo. Merchandise including shirts, stuffed animal, stickers and other merchandise has been created with the mascots.
Brand logo
The official logo, includes two "M" letters, one in green representing the city's hills and the blue one representing the city's pure waters. The double Ms also serve as a flame cauldron, which on top has a flame representing the Olympic flame and the sunset, which also characterizes the city of Mayagüez. The official logo was designed by Abner Gutiérrez and Mayra Maldonado of IDGroup, San Juan PR.
Official sports pictograms
The official sports pictograms were created inspired in the official logo design. These pictograms were designed by Abner Gutiérrez and Jorge Colón of IDGroup, San Juan PR.
Reception
Initial public reaction noted that the organization of the event would be an important economic injection to the municipality, although the costs of organizing it would be higher that originally expected. After the project's original budget failed to cover all of the projects, the Mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Jorge Santini, insisted that the aquatics sports should be moved to San Juan Natatorium. This was supported by the Governor of Puerto Rico, Luis Fortuño, who also suggested branching several other sports, including boxing and football, to other municipalities, most of them led by his political party. However, David Bernier, head of Puerto Rico Olympic Committee, decided to not get involved in the controversy, leaving the decision in the hands of Central American and Caribbean Sports Organization (CASCO). Mayagüez's mayor, José Guillermo Rodríguez, firmly opposed this suggestion, citing that the athletes' quarters are located in that municipality, which would mean more investment in security and transportation. In addition Felipe Muñoz, president of the Mexican Olympic Committee and a former swimmer himself, concurred, commenting that "they must swim in Mayagüez" on behalf of a commission sent to represent CASCO.
Torch relay "Mayagüez 2010"
The Central American and Caribbean flame was lighted on Friday, 25 June 2010, at the Teotihuacán Pyramids in Mexico by indigenous priests. Mexico has the distinction of being the traditional seat of the lighting of the flame for the CAC games since it was the host of the first games in 1926. At the ceremony a Puerto Rican delegation traveled to Mexico, composed of Henry Neumann, secretary of Sports and Recreation, David Bernier, head of Puerto Rico Olympic Committee, Felipe Pérez, president of the organizing Committee and José Guillermo Rodríguez, mayor of Mayagüez.