Madrid Spain.- Due to the growing exodus of Cuban athletes, largely motivated by the economic crisis that the Island is going through, “we will see a decrease in the results of Cuba in the Olympic Games” in Paris-2024, a Cuban expert acknowledged to the news agency. AFP.
According to his statements, “renovating and replacing outlets is not easy”.
The specialist, who preferred that his identity not be revealed, also pointed out that “an elite athlete is not trained in four, eight or ten years”, and “giving ownership to second figures is not a guarantee of immediate success at the first level ” .
Regarding the constant emigration of athletes from the island, the academic from the University of Costa Rica, Jorge Lobo, told AFP: “Cubans have that potential, they have great sports development and then deciding that this potential can be developed , that they can do better in other latitudes, they are not going to doubt it”.
“There is not much to turn the issue around, it is social mobility, which is essential in modern life,” and “Cuba has to rethink that policy, which does not give material conditions to its athletes to retain them,” added Lobo.
For his part, volleyball player Robertlandy Simón, who left Cuba in 2011, considered that his colleagues will continue to leave for economic reasons.
“They do not have the possibility of having a full life in our country and that possibility is given to them by other countries. (…) Even showing a lot of quality, you just don’t get what you want, your family in general has a lot of work and what you want is to help”, said Simón, one of the best central defenders in the world.
The news agency recalled that in 2013 the Cuban government authorized athletes to sign up for foreign clubs to try to stop this massive exodus. However, it has not stopped, but has been increasing.
Among the recent escapes of Cuban athletes, those of the triple jumper Jordan Díaz, gold medalist in the last Youth Games, stand out; that of Fernando Dayán Jorge, Olympic canoe champion in Tokyo 2020, who deserted the delegation with which he traveled to Mexico to train; and of Ishmael Borrero, Olympic champion in Greco-Roman wrestling (59 kg) in Rio 2016. Borrero “defected” from Team Cuba with which he traveled to Acapulco, Mexico, where he would participate in the 2022 Pan American Wrestling Championship.
Receive information from CubaNet on your cell phone through WhatsApp. Send us a message with the word “CUBA” on the phone +1 (786) 316-2072, You can also subscribe to our electronic newsletter by giving click here.
