Brasília, July 28, 2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Yesterday (27), at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Pan-American Sports Organization (Odepa), the president of the Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB), Carlos Arthur Nuzman, handed the president of the body, Mário Vázquez Raña, a copy of the decree in which President Lula created the Governmental Action Management Committee for the XV Pan-American Games in 2007 (Pan Rio 2007).

The Committee is made up of 12 Ministers, presided by the Minister of Sports, Agnelo Queiroz. The committee will coordinate programs for the Pan Rio 2007 at the federal level, and among its responsibilities is the management of a strategic plan for federal government agencies and coordination with other levels of government and the Pan Rio 2007 Organization Committee. Other members of the Committee are the Head of the Presidential Advisory Staff and the Ministers of the Presidential Security Staff; the Secretariat of Government Communications and Strategic Management; Defense; Finance; Justice; Communications; Foreign Relations; Tourism; Planning, Budget, and Management; and Development, Industry, and Trade.

The official symbol of the Pan Rio 2007 was also presented and approved, unanimously, at yesterday's meeting of the Odepa. The symbol is scheduled to be launched internationally on August 17, in Santo Domingo, at a luncheon offered by the mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Cesar Maia. The Organization Committee will also make an official presentation tomorrow, at the Odepa plenary session, of the organization's progress report for the Rio 2007 Pan-American Games. (DAS)