Cuban Volleyball Federation denounces U.S. discrimination

HAVANA, Cuba, July 15 (ACN) The Cuban Volleyball Federation (FCV) issued the following official statement:

The Cuban Volleyball Federation (FCV) confirms the decision made on June 26 by the United States Embassy in Havana to deny our team the visas to participate in the NORCECA Women's Final Four tournament to be held on July 16 in Puerto Rico.

As we reported that day, we reiterate that the 16 members of the delegation (12 athletes, two coaches, one referee, and one team manager) were notified of the said denial at the embassy at the time of the appointment following the application for the visas, which were requested in accordance with the established deadlines for such arrangements.

In this regard, we stress that the last-minute decision to grant visas to 15 members of the group, made known by telephone on Tuesday by the U.S. Embassy just hours before the start of the competition is by no means a solution, since the original denial led the organizers of the competition to register another team to maintain the tournament format.

As if that weren't enough, suffice it to consider the travel arrangements and other logistical demands to describe the U.S. measure as a hurtful and irrational decision which only prevents Cuba from playing in a competition included in the qualification process for the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo that also grants points to the NORCECA and world rankings.

We insist that this conduct is at odds with the commitments inherent to the responsibility assumed by host countries of international sport events and was acted from an unfair and discriminatory position that is heedless of the precepts of sports and has also been taken against other Cuban sport delegations.
We once again alert the international sports community to what the country that will host the 2028 Olympic Games could decide in the future.

Once again we appreciate the many efforts made by the organizers, whom we have kept updated on this situation, while we call on our counterpart federations to express their solidarity and condemn this unjustified treatment.
Cuban Volleyball Federation

Havana, July 15, 2025