Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, February 07,  2003

WARMING UP: Sele gears up for Central America tournament in Panama. Photo/Fedefut

Sele Heads to C.A. Nations' Cup Three-time tournament champions and favorites in this year's Central American Nations' Cup, the Costa Rica National Soccer Team left for Panama yesterday to take on the five other countries on the isthmus in this year's round-robin Gold Cup qualifier.
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L.A. Press Reacts to U.S. Proof on Iraq
MONTEVIDEO (AFP) -- While the Costa Rica's daily Spanish-language press took a middle-of-the-road approach to reporting U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell's presentation of evidence Wednesday that Iraq is developing weapons of mass destruction, much of the Latin American press reported with skepticism and doubt.
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Poll Shows Ticos Favor Casino, Sportsbook Regulations
More than half of Ticos think that casinos and Internet gambling firms (sportsbooks) should be regulated by law, while 37% think they should be banned from the country, according to an Unimer public opinion poll published yesterday in the daily La Nación.
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Read today's TT print edition for Valentine’s Day Activities

Love Concert at the Beach
Reserve today your room at the five-star Villa Caletas Hotel and enjoy a sunset concert by Adrián Goizueta on Sat., Feb. 15, at 5 p.m. The hotel is 3 km. further from Punta Leona entrance. Info: 637-0505.

Acting Workshop
Fri.-Sat., Feb. 7-8, 7 p.m., Casa de la Cultura, Limón. Info: 255-3093.

Cartoon "Mazinger Z"
30 best episodes, Mon., Wed., Fri., Jan. 27-Feb. 7, 6 p.m., Children’s Museum, Ca. 4, Av. 6. Info: 258-4929.

Nature Classes
Zoo Camp, 8-12, Feb. 7-8, Simón Bolivar Zoo. Info: 256-0012, 233-6701, 223-1790.

Story Telling: By Juan Cuentacuentos, Sun., Feb. 9, 16, 4 p.m., Juan Santamaría Museum, Alajuela. Info: 441-4775.

Longo Mai Arts Festival to Hit Southern Zone
Escape from San José for the weekend. Longo Mai in Volcán de Buenos Aires and don’t miss the festival featuring, on Fri., Feb. 14 visitors and residents can enjoy the play "Cocorí" at 4 p.m., the play "Mamita Yunai" at 6 p.m., the rock concert by Don Nadie group at 8 p.m. Sat., Feb. 15, activities for children and teenagers open the Festival this day, then shows continue with the French movie "The Red Baloon," (10 a.m.); a poetry and story telling presentation (2 p.m.); documentary "Los Hijos de Cuasrán" (4 p.m.); Costa Rican movie "Password: Una Mirada en la Oscuridad," with a forum (5 p.m.); workshop by the Teatro Ram Wirt from Austria (7 p.m.); circus presentations (9 p.m.), music by Los Tucanes and international artists (10 p.m.). On Sunday, people can enjoy of the play "The Musician," (10 a.m., a dance show (2 p.m.) and the play "Los Gritos del Silencio," (4 p.m.). Further information at 771-4239, nueva@racsa.co.cr

Sele Heads to C.A. Nations' Cup
By Tim Rogers
trogers@ticotimes.net

Coach Sampson

Three-time tournament champions and favorites in this year's Central American Nations' Cup, the Costa Rica National Soccer Team left for Panama yesterday to take on the five other countries on the isthmus in this year's round-robin Gold Cup qualifier.

Under the helm of head coach Steve Sampson, who won his first friendly as the Ticos' coach last Sunday, the Selección Nacional is looking to regain the regional title it lost to Guatemala in 2001.

Although the Ticos lost in the finals during the last Central American Nations' Cup, the team still qualified for the 2001 Gold Cup (championship soccer tournament for Central America, North American and the Caribbean) and made it to the finals, where they lost to U.S.
The up-and-coming Honduran team, which just missed qualifying for the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan, is expected to give the Sele a run for its money in next week's regional tournament. This will be Honduran national team's first time playing since their star goalie, 28-year-old Milton Flores, was shot to death last month (TT, Jan. 24).

The Ticos also won't count out Guatemala, which has been quiet of late, El Salvador, which has shown it is capable of upsets and host Panama. Nicaragua, on the other hand, should stick to baseball.

The Ticos won the biannual Central American Nations' Cup in 1991, 1997 and 1999, before losing in the finals in 2001. This will be the seventh Central American Nations' Cup.

The tournament kicks off Sunday with Panama playing El Salvador. Costa Rica's first game is Tuesday at 8 p.m. (Tico time) against El Salvador.

READ ALL ABOUT IT,
L.A. Press Reacts to U.S. Proof on Iraq

MONTEVIDEO (AFP) -- While the Costa Rica's daily Spanish-language press took a middle-of-the-road approach to reporting U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell's presentation of evidence Wednesday that Iraq is developing weapons of mass destruction, much of the Latin American press reported with skepticism and doubt.

Presenting the United Nations Security Counsel with diagrams, vials and tape recordings, Powell made the case that Iraq is deceiving the world with its secret weapons program. Not everyone in the Americas was convinced by the U.S.' arguments, however.

The press in Chile and Mexico, the two Latin American countries belonging to the Security Council, questioned Powell's "proof."

"The Mexican government called the proof presented by the United States of a supposed weapons program in Iraq insufficient," reported the Mexican daily Reforma.

Its competitor, La Jornada, called Powell's case "not convincing." In the daily's editorial, the paper claimed: "The group that is governing the United States is facing a difficult crossroads: if it wants to launch an aggressive military attack against Iraq, it will probably have to go it alone."

Chilean news sources Ultimas Noticias and La Tercera also claimed that Powell did not convince his allies.

"Powell's proof was not sufficient to convince the incredulous international community that war is imminent and the only way to keep Hussein from threatening peace."

An Argentine afternoon daily reported the headline: "Oil has reasons that reason doesn't understand."

"Powell presented a multimedia show to the United Nations, but the proof only convinced those who were already convinced," the Argentine press claimed. "The United States made it clear it is going ahead with this regardless…"

The Argentine daily La Nación headlined: "Powell didn't convince anyone, insists on attacking Iraq."

Brazilian daily O Globo ran the headline: "Powell's proof didn't convince allies," while competitor O Estado de Sao Paulo read: "Powell does not convince Security Council."


"The U.S.' proof left more doubt than certainty," commented the Uruguayan daily El Observador.

The Ecuadorian afternoon daily Hoy reported: "Colin Powell did not convince Security Council, but the war is now closer."

Bolivian daily La Razón claimed "The U.S.' proof to the UN does not precipitate an attack on Iraq," while competitor La Prensa headlined: "Colin Powell did not convince Security Council."

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Poll Shows Ticos Favor Casino, Sportsbook Regulations

sportsbook in Mall San Pedro TT/ Fernando Vindas

More than half of Ticos think that casinos and Internet gambling firms (sportsbooks) should be regulated by law, while 37% think they should be banned from the country, according to an Unimer public opinion poll published yesterday in the daily La Nación.

In a demographically balanced interview of more than 1,200 Ticos around the country, 57% of those polled said they don't think the gambling outfits benefit the economy, even though more than half acknowledged the unregulated operations generate employment and 66% said they help tourism.

More than 80% of those polled said casinos and sportsbooks have a negative effect on the values of the country, and 63% said the gambling operations hurt the image of the country.

Negative perceptions of casinos and sportsbooks are particularly high with women, the elderly, people with less education and people from low-income households.

Costa Rica's 120 sportsbooks employ an estimated 5,00-6,000 bilingual people who earn above-average monthly salaries beginning at $650-$800. The U.S. Justice Department is keen to crack down on the industry, which generates an estimated $20 billion worldwide and has been found to be susceptible to money laundering and payout frauds (TT, Dec. 20, 2002).

Congress is currently studying proposals to regulate and tax the gambling industry.

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