| | |  News Around the Republic of Mexico 
Mexico Looks to US to Find Future Olympians
 Associated Press
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January 21, 2010
 |  | Historically, many Mexicans with sports talent have not had the chance - we didn't make it easy.
- Bernardo De la Garza |  | | |
Los Angeles – Mexican sports officials are searching for potential Olympic athletes in the United States with family links to Mexico who might eventually compete for the Latin American country.
Mexico's sports minister Bernardo De la Garza said Wednesday that the first step in the identification process would be the so-called Mexican Games being held in Los Angeles in March. Competitions will be held in 12 Olympic disciplines and will be open to Mexicans, Mexican-Americans and Mexican-Canadians.
De la Garza used the example of Oscar De la Hoya, a retired American boxing champion of Mexican descent, as the kind of athlete the competition might unearth.
Mexico has traditionally done poorly in the Olympics, and De la Garza said the country was partly to blame. Mexico won only three medals in 2008 in Beijing — two golds and one bronze.
"Historically, many Mexicans with sports talent have not had the chance," De la Garza said. "We didn't make it easy. We didn't stretch out our hand and help them so they could represent Mexico and not have to do it in other countries."
"What we can do for Mexican sports is open the door so they have the chance, so those who want to can represent their country in international events."
De la Garza said he was particularly interested in finding sprinters, and athletes in the javelin, shot put and discus.
"Traditionally, Mexico has not had sprinters," he said. "The field events also have not been a strength."
The games, officially know as the "Sports Games for Mexicans Abroad," will take place March 29-April 4 in Los Angeles. De la Garza said some talented foreigners from the games would be invited to the Mexico National Olympiad, which takes place annually in Mexico.
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