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U.S. prevents its Greco-Roman team
from training in Cuba
BY FRANK MARÍN
VERGARA —Prensa Latina staff writer—
THE
refusal to allow the U.S. Greco-Roman wrestling team
to visit Cuba has added a new page to the
long-standing history of this kind of situation
promoted by the government in Washington.
Led
by Joe Warren, world champion in the 60kilogram
category, the U.S. team had anticipated undertaking
a training program in Cuba, as it has done since
2005.
As
well as continuing its preparations, the northern
team was due to take part in a Champions’ Gala, a
contest in which the very best Cuban wrestlers also
participate.
In a
statement to the Cuban press, the island’s national
commissioner Miguel Langaney affirmed that it was
the U.S. authorities who refused permission as in
Havana, all the conditions had been established to
receive the athletes.
For
many years, the authorities of that country have
repeatedly prevented cultural, scientific, academic
and sporting exchange between the two countries.
The
Cuban government has systematically condemned this
situation that in 2005 led to the refusal of a total
of 183 visas for Cubans participating in a variety
of events.
In
the field of sports, the Cubans have been deprived
of the opportunity of participating in competitions
in that territory and in Puerto Rico. The same thing
has happened with sports officials who have even
been prevented from attending international
congresses to which they have rightful access.
As a
consequence of this, disciplines such as boxing,
baseball, volleyball, wrestling, gymnastics and
basketball are suffering with respect to bilateral
cooperation.
This
measure also works in an inverse sense given that in
2005, Washington vetoed the attendance of around 96
U.S. athletes at organized events on Cuban soil.
Because of this attitude, the Cuban sports
infrastructure has been significantly affected, both
in terms of the acquisition of equipment as well as
the maintenance of facilities.
The
example of shooting is one of the most significant
in terms of the incidence of these conditions as
Cuban personnel are unable to purchase items
manufactured in the United States.
Illustrative proof of the extraterritorial nature of
this policy is the impossibility of Cuban marksmen
using Italian Bereta shotguns, because the
manufacturing company maintains strong commercial
ties with the United States.
Likewise, the purchase of basic equipment such as
stopwatches, balls and other items has reduced
notably in some cases, and in others the cost has
noticeably increased due to the fact that they have
to be sought in more distant regions.
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