The president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC)the German Thomas Bach, presented this Friday the IOC Gold Medal to Miguel Díaz-Canel, on his last day of visit to Cuba.
The distinction recognizes the “support (of Díaz-Canel) of the international Olympic movement,” according to official media.
On his second day on the island, Bach exchanged with the Cuban president, who described it as “an honor” to receive him in Havana and affirmed that during the meeting they remembered “great moments of Cuban sport”, discussed their perspectives and reiterated his support for the IOC.
For his part, the head of the highest sports organization on the planet, who traveled accompanied by other sports executives —among them the Chilean Neven Ilic, leader of Panam Sports— thanked the hospitality of the Cuban authorities and described his visit as “intense, but perfect”, as reported the digital site Hit.
Bach presents the IOC Gold Medal to the Cuban president
rated the visit to #Cuba as intense, but perfect, and appreciated the hospitality received. @Olympics https://t.co/GI7uPuNpH2 pic.twitter.com/87nSj5LlK8— JIT Cuban Sport (@jit_digital) March 3, 2023
This Friday, Bach also inaugurated the track installed at the Pan-American Stadium in Havana, where he exchanged with athletes and sports authorities on the island. The day before he had done the same at the Ciudad Deportiva Coliseum, where he opened a multipurpose court and witnessed sports exhibitions.
On his first day, he also recognized the work of the Cuban Olympic Committee (COC) and described the island as “an example of modern sport” for its work and organization with a view to the upcoming summer events.
In statements to international media, Bach said that his visit to Cuba has served him to “learn about his preparations for the Olympic Games in Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028.” In addition, he considered the island an “important country” for world sports because of the Olympic medals he has achieved.
“Cubans can be very proud of their great successes,” he said, quoted by the agency EFE
The senior manager also commented that “it is too early” to talk about Russia’s participation or not in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
In this sense, he explained that consultations are being carried out with the Olympic committees of all countries and with the different sports federations to “consider everything” about the situation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in international competitions in the coming months, reports the Spanish media. .
Thomas Bach and his entourage were fired this very Friday afternoon at the José Martí International Airport by the highest authorities of Cuban sports. Before leaving, they described the results of the visit as “excellent”, in accordance with Hit.
The IOC holder’s visit to Cuba is part of a tour he is taking through several countries in the region, accompanied by Ilic. Previously, the Caribbean country had been visited by the entity’s presidents Juan Antonio Samarach and Jacques Rogge, who were on the island during their respective terms.
EFE / OnCuba
