The Marcelo Salado Cup opens the Cuban swimming calendar in 2022 from April 9 to 16 at the Baraguá Pool Complex, located east of Havana.
Nelson García, national commissioner, told JIT that several countries are interested in participating as has traditionally happened with this competition, suspended by the pandemic in 2020 and 2021.
The domestic calendar is completed by the Pioneer Cup from April 18 to 23, the National School Games in the first half of July and the Andrés Pérez Cup in Short Pool from December 18 to 22 in the country’s capital.
«At the international level we intend to attend five competitions, starting with the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan (May 13-29), with four athletes invited by the Fina. So far, only Elisbet Gámez and Luis Vega have the required marks,” Garcia said.
Then the First Caribbean Games appear on the calendar, in Guadeloupe from June 27 to July 4. The five planned Cubans will be determined by their performance in the Marcelo Salado Cup.
Cuba also intends to participate in the Central American and Caribbean Championship (CCCAN) for ages, which should take place in June, although the date and venue are yet to be specified.
“We plan to go with four swimmers, and we will be in the world championships in the youth category and the short course, since we have two and four representatives for each one, invited by the International Swimming Federation,” he commented.
The championship for the most novice will take place from August 20 to 27 and the 25-meter pool from December 17 to 23, both in Kazan, Russia, where there is one of the Fina International Centers.
«Swimmers with disabilities have their national championship from April 26 to 30 in Varadero; the World Cup in June in Portugal and the Youth Pan American Games in December, Colombia. In addition, they are inserted in our national competitions, “he added.
Those in the master group will also be able to enjoy competitions for their ages such as the second phase of the Marcelo Salado Cup and the Ramón Cordobés Cup from April 20 to 24, in Varadero, with foreign participation; the Pan-American in June, in Colombia and the Crossing to the Bay of Matanzas on August 13.