The country's Sports Minister Bernardo De la Garza has launched the Mexican Games, which will be held in Los Angeles in March where athletes with ties to Mexico will have the opportunity to compete in 12 Olympic disciplines.

De la Garza used the example of Oscar De la Hoya, who is of Mexican descent and won a gold medal fighting for the United States at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona before going on to have a glittering professional career during which he won 10 world titles in six different weight classes, as an example of the kind of athlete he hoped the scheme might unearth.

De la Garza said: "Historically, many Mexicans with sports talent have not had the chance.

"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."

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.

According to the US Census, there were 9.2 million Mexican-born US residents in 2000.

De la Garza said he was particularly interested in finding sprinters, and athletes in the javelin, shot put and discus.

He said: "Traditionally, Mexico has not had sprinters.

"The field events also have not been a strength."

In Beijing Mexico enjoyed its most successful performance at the Olympics for 24 years when they won three medals, including two gold from Guillermo Pérez Sandoval and Maria del Rosario Espinoza, both in taekwondo.

Mexico made its Olympic debut in 1900 and has competed in every Games since 1924, including hosting the event in 1968.

Their most successful performance in a non-boycotted Games outside Mexico City was at London in 1948 when they won five medals, including two gold, taking the individual and team show jumping titles.

They have won at least one medal in every Games since Los Angeles in 1932 but De la Garza  believes that a country with a population of 106,682 million - the 11th biggest in the world - should be challenging for more medals.


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