SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic -- With an expenditure of at least $175 million that could reach nearly twice that amount, the Dominican Republic takes center stage at the Pan American Games.

	A Dominican boy practices a dance prior to the Pan American games opening ceremony on Friday.

Local baseball heroes Juan Marichal and Pedro Martinez were scheduled to take part in the opening ceremony Friday night at Olympic Stadium featuring some 10,000 participants. Marichal, the only Dominican in the Baseball Hall of Fame, will light the torch.

"The work and dedication we've put into this enterprise means we can hold our heads high,'' Dominican Republic President Hipolito Mejia said. "These games will be a party for all Dominicans.''

It certainly will be the biggest event the Caribbean nation has ever staged. One of the poorest countries in the Americas, the Dominican Republic is eager to strut its stuff for the next two weeks.

But leading right up to the opening ceremony, which also will be attended by Mejia, Pan American Sports Organization president Mario Vasquez Rana and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, workers frantically attempted to finish various facilities.

Construction, painting, installation of electrical cables and other equipment were the activities of the day Thursday throughout Santo Domingo's sports venues.

Still in question were the facilities for gymnastics and fencing, which had yet to receive international federation approval. Both events begin Saturday.

At Quisqueya baseball stadium, which will host the medals-round games, TV broadcasters complained the lighting system was so inadequate that much of the field could not be seen by viewers.

There was no longer any question whether the track and field competition will be held. IAAF inspector Cesar Moreno of Mexico said that although official certification from the sport's governing body might not arrive until next week or later, the venue can be used for the games.

"It will be the best track and field venue in the history of the Pan American Games,'' Moreno said.

Jose Joaquin Puello, the organizing committee president, added, "Everything is prepared. There is no obstacle that will stop things from proceeding as planned.''

Puello dismissed complaints, saying they were "normal for such events.''

Martinez, the three-time Cy Young Award winner who got no decision in his start Thursday night at Texas, boarded a chartered plane after the game for the flight to Santo Domingo.

"The Red Sox are proud that Pedro has received this special invitation,'' Boston general manager Theo Epstein said. "Grady Little and I believe that this is a great honor for Pedro and for the entire Red Sox organization.''

Martinez will return to Boston on Monday.

A delegation from the Pan Am Games and the Dominican Republic passed the torch to Red Sox slugger David Ortiz in a ceremony at Fenway Park on June 26.