US Blockade, Hurdle against Cuban Sports

Havana, Oct 13 (ACN) Cuban sports directives denounced the impact of the US economic, commercial and financial blockade of the island which hinders the development of the island’s sports.

The US siege hinders the normal money transfers, said Yilian Fernandez, economic director of the Cubadeportes Trade Society in a press conference on Friday. She noted that banning Cuba from using US dollars lead to extreme restrictions.

Any counterpart agency linked to the US limits itself from any deal with Cuba, which can hardly offer professional or training services. This way the Cuban company collecting funds to invest in high-performance sports cannot carry out its functions.

Ariel Sainz, vice-president of the Cuban Sports Institute said that different sports disciplines face several difficulties hindering their development. He put as example two prestigious volleyball coaches who have not been able to receive over 16 thousand dollars each from their participation in international meets.

Cuba finds it difficult to count on technological supplies and sports equipment due to the commercial barriers imposed by the US’s hostile policy against the island, said Raul Fornes, first vice-president of the Cuban Sports Institute.

But Cuba keeps being and Olympic power and despite the US blockade the island had a successful performance at the ALBA game and at the Central American and Caribbean games this year, and it is contesting the Santiago de Chile Pan-American Games this month.