Athletes protest at Government Palace door, police disperse them with gas

Athletes participating in Bolivia's "Sueño Bicentenario" program took their protest to the doorstep of the Government Palace, demanding overdue payments. The demonstrators claim the Bolivian state owes them nearly 3.5 million bolivianos.

Their protest, however, was met with a forceful response from the police, who dispersed the athletes using tear gas. The confrontation underscores a significant financial dispute between the athletes and the government, impacting those involved in the national sports program.

The athletes' grievances center on the alleged failure of the state to disburse funds designated for their participation and development under the "Sueño Bicentenario" initiative. This program, aimed at fostering national talent, appears to be facing severe financial mismanagement or budgetary shortfalls, leaving athletes without promised compensation.

The use of tear gas to clear the protesters has drawn attention to the government's handling of the situation. While the authorities have not publicly detailed their reasons for the dispersal, the action escalates the tension between the athletes seeking their due payments and the state apparatus.