School games are of great importance, says Cuban head of sports

GRANMA, Cuba, Jul 6 (acn) After attending the opening of the 52nd National School Games, Antonio Becali, president of the National Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation (INDER by its Spanish acronym), confirmed in this city the importance of this type of event for the formation of sport champions in Cuba.

Last night, Becali said that the contest, first held in 1963, is the structural foundation of the pyramid of high performance sports in the country, first challenge of the great athletes.

He explained that many of those who will represent Cuba at the next Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, from August 5 to 21, participated in these events when they began the road to the conquest of golden aspirations.

He said this time the competition will be attended by delegations from 14 countries, including Venezuela, Mexico, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Peru, Ukraine and the United States.

Becali added that the inaugural activity of this year was a beautiful show, which included dance, clowns and the presentation of the popular orchestra Original de Manzanillo.

Oscar Nuevo, INDER director in the province of Granma, told participants that they are the champions of the future and therefore it is important dedication in training, competitions and classrooms, in order to be good athletes and revolutionaries.

Dedicated to the 90th birthday of Fidel, the gala included a tribute five Granma athletes founders of the event.

Granma will be represented at the meeting by 367 athletes and 68 coaches, who aim to achieve fourth seat overall, which would be the best historical performance of this eastern territory, after finishing fifth in the previous edition.

Until next July 22, the Games will involve 6 720 competitors, in 30 sports for cadets and 14 of junior category.

Among the 12 provinces hosting the event, the busiest ones will be Havana, Matanzas, Villa Clara, Ciego de Avila, Camaguey and Santiago de Cuba.