The Government of the United States once again goes against the spirit of the Olympics and the brotherhood that the sport creates, exerting its force to disrespect the right of Cuban athletes to participate in an event.
These ways of trying to curtail the dignity of Cubans are not new. Puerto Rico, and its city of Ponce, represented by its emblematic Leones, was in 1993 a symbol of unity and support for Cuba, by defeating attempts to prevent our delegation from attending the Central American and Caribbean Games.
The people of Ponce, then, acted with dignity before the just request that Cuban aircraft transport their athletes to their brother country, who with their actions contributed to the success of the event, despite the failed attempts to attack different facilities. The Puerto Ricans showed solidarity with us.
Thirty years later, once again obstacles are placed for Cuba to compete in an event, in the city of the Leones. The United States Embassy in Havana –despite the fact that the documentation was presented on July 20– did not grant visas to the women's volleyball team to participate in the Pan American Cup Ponce-2023.
Thus, it ignores the duty of the host country to receive and provide participants with a safe stay during the competition, a point recognized in the Olympic Charter, and that the US government violates at will.
The contest, qualifying for the Pan American Games in Santiago de Chile-2023, leaves Cuba out of having an opportunity to fraternize with other teams from the area, and due to such an absurd decision, and illegal one in the face of the international sports movement, Cuba will not be among the 12 teams summoned to the tournament.
Translated by ESTI
