2010
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
Solís Miffs China On
Proposed Name The New Stadium: "Dalai Lama"
The government of China responded negatively
to a suggestion by the presidential
candidate for the Partido Acción Cuidana
(PAC), Ottón Solís, to name the new stadium
being built by the Chinese and donated to
Costa Rica, the "Dalai Lama". The Solís
comment was reject by the Arias government,
the Foreign ministry saying "it is not in
line with the common desires of the two
countries".
The us$83 million dollar stadium, under
construction on the northeast corner of the
Sabana park, is being built by China as a
"gift to the people of Costa Rica".
Solís said earlier this week that he would
name the stadium after the exiled Tibetan
spiritual leader to show Costa Rica's lack
of dependence on economic aid.
The Dalai Lama has lived in exile in
Dharamsala, India, since a failed Tibetan
uprising against the Chinese government in
1959. He acknowledges that Tibet is part of
China, but Beijing still considers him a
revolutionary who works to spread notions
about Tibetan independence.
The stadium, once finished, will have a
capacity of 35.000 and be the most modern of
all stadiums in Costa Rica, that will
include a sports museum, a track and field
and house 32 Costa Rican sports federations.
The Chinese government decided to donate the
stadium following Costa Rica's decision to
reject recognition of Taiwan in favour of
diplomatic relations with China.
Taiwan had been a important financial
benefactor to Costa Rica, providing funding
for many social and infrastructure projects,
including the building of the bridge in the
gulf of Nicoya.
The stadium is expected to be inaugurated in
the first quarter of 2011.
Solís is trailing in third place in the
polls and said this is his "last"
presidential campaign, as he does not
believe in re-election, inferring that he
will win this third time around. |
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