A little over a year after the National Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation (Inder) was founded on February 23, 1961, and despite lacking athletes with experience in international tournaments, Cuba competed in the Jamaica 1962 Central American & Caribbean Games.
During this period of drastic changes to national life which began in 1959, the Revolution proposed and promoted the idea of “sports for all,” giving the entire population the opportunity to practice a new and wide range of disciplines. This effort was supported by women and men focused on developing facilities, while champions emerged from among individuals initially just interested in keeping fit.
The creation of Voluntary Sporting Councils (CVDs) - in cities and even the most remote areas of the island – would contribute to the growth of Cuba’s sporting movement with Comandante en Jefe Fidel Castro noting early on: “We are committed to promoting sports at all costs, and taking it as far as possible…”
In 1970, Cuba placed at the top of the country medal chart in the Panama edition of the oldest regional competition (founded in 1926), to the annoyance of its enemies who, even after exploiting the oldest tricks in the book, had not been able to stop the island from participating in the regional competition alongside its Central American and Caribbean brothers and sisters.
Today however, one of these particular episodes of aggression and offense – aimed at stopping Cuba from participating in the Games - is remembered as an experience of which we are proud and serves as a reference for athletes looking toward the upcoming edition of this year’s tournament in Barranquilla.
A DISAPPEARING ACT
Despite the fact that many of the young athletes who competed in the Jamaica 1962 Games lacked experience, Cuba was intent on bringing its best figures to the event. However, as soon as the delegation arrived it came under attack in different settings by counter-revolutionary groups, in acts which would later turn violent.
Such as the case of the baseball game between Cuba and Puerto Rico, where Modesto Verdura from Sancti Spíritus was announced as the starting pitcher for the game on August 14, 1962 at 3pm in Sabina Park Stadium, not in the best condition and which seemed to have been hastily put together for the event.
Accounts from the day which appeared in the newspaper Revolución – including one by late journalist Eddy Martin – described the atmosphere that afternoon as charged, hours before the game even started, after anti-Cuban groups entered the stadium, occupying the seats at the very top of the bleachers.
Against a grey sky and the threat of rain the counter-revolutionaries readied to unleash their hate at a facility where, given the high cost of tickets, there were hardly any Jamaican fans.
To put a damper on the fraternal atmosphere that should have characterized the game, members of the group had released flyers with insulting messages which read: “Cuban, if you want asylum, don’t compete, just wait for a police officer to pick you up.” Under the message appeared the name and number of a priest called Edward who was willing to help.
Later on in the game other members of the Cuban delegation came down to support their compatriots, singing and chanting from the lower part of the stadium. Meanwhile the troublemakers seated higher up began to shout insults, until, with the rain pouring down, they began to throw chairs, planks of wood and bats, while the police stood idly by.
The Cuban delegation, there supporting their national team, immediately responded cornering the counter-revolutionaries at the top of the bleachers with the same “weapons” as those used by their aggressors, forcing them to flee. Thanks to Manuel González Guerra, President of the Cuban Olympic Committee, the players on the field didn’t become involved in the altercation.
The following day, a quote from someone at the stadium appeared on page seven of Revolución: “Look, our athletes are the only ones left in the bleachers. What cowards!”
MEMORABLE MOMENTS
- The Ninth edition of the Games was inaugurated on August 11, 1962, in the National Stadium. Fifteen countries and 1,559 athletes competed in the tournament. Cuba finished in third place with 12 gold, 11 silver and 13 bronze medals, after Mexico (37-25-26) and Venezuela (15-27-15).
- Manuel Permuy, a member of Cuba’s basketball team which finished fourth, and fencer Luis Morales, both died in the terrorist downing of a Cubana de Aviación plane over the coast of Barbados on October 6, 1976.
- On August 17, fencer Mireya Rodríguez won the island’s first gold medal with 20 wins and two defeats. That same day boxers Osvaldo Rivery (57 kg), Félix Betancourt (63.5), Virgilio Jiménez (67) and Leonardo Alcolea (71), also won gold.
- Miguelina Cobián was Cuba’s first female sprinter to win the 100 meters, with a time of 12 seconds, to match the record at that time. Meanwhile, Enrique Figuerola, who finished fourth in the Rome 1960 Olympic Games, took first place in the 100 and 200 meters.
- Other female athletes who won gold medals included Bertha Díaz in the 80 meters hurdles, in 11.1 seconds, and the long jump, with a leap of 5.50 meters. Caridad Agüero set a new regional record in the discus event with a throw of 43.75 meters, while Hilda Ramírez took first place in the javelin (40.32 meters).
- The Dominican Republic won the baseball competition - defeating Cuba 3-2 - followed by Puerto Rico (3-2), Mexico (3-2), Cuba (2-3) and Colombia (1-4).
