Although the Sports Law was approved in the most recent session of the National Assembly of People’s Power (ANPP), the implementation of sponsorship and advertising in the Cuban sports system is still waiting.
However, experiences in the application of this possibility remain imperceptible, one of the pillars that could contribute to rescuing the good results of Cuban athletes at the highest level, which are increasingly less frequent today.
The norm discussed and approved by the island’s parliament last July comes to “ratify a circumstantial practice” that occurred in Cuban sports with the exercise of sponsorship, according to the criteria given by Karel Pachot, legal director of Inder, in the specialized baseball program Live Ball, from the Cubavision channel.
“From the Social Communication Law What advertising is in the Cuban sports system is rescued and is included in the new Sports Law so that it becomes widespread in its practice,” the manager said.
The expert clarified that these issues had been implemented before from Resolution No. 41 issued on April 1, which regulates the authorization of the exercise of advertising and sponsorship in the island’s sports system, to respond to the requirements of the Social Communication Law.
In accordance with the regulations already in force, the approval of the use of advertising and sponsorship in national and international events was left in the hands of Inder. In the case of those of a provincial and municipal nature, these issues would be the responsibility of the management at that level, Pachot recalled.
The same procedure is applicable to the case of sports facilities, taking into account their level of subordination, he added.
Many possibilities
Among the advantages that the use of advertising and sponsorship would offer at all levels of the Cuban sports system would be the possibility of repairing facilities, and guaranteeing the necessary resources to hold different events, including transportation and food for the participants, recognized the highest legal authority of Inder.
In turn, he emphasized that the new provision is aimed at all actors currently participating in the Cuban economic system, including the private sector, which has acquired greater prominence.
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“Everyone can request the execution of advertising and sponsorship actions in the Cuban sports system,” said Pichot, before explaining the mechanism for this.
“In the case of the National baseball series It is requested through the federation of that sport, to the organizing committee of this event. It is these bodies that present it to the corresponding instance,” he explained.
The manager also referred to the real possibility that a private businessman could sponsor a National Series team through a project that must go from the provincial to the national level to be approved.
In all sports, but specifically in the case of baseball, he also mentioned that the logos of the sponsors’ brands may appear on team uniforms, in addition to the manufacturer’s logo.
In stadiums, according to the legal expert, it has been initially conceived and approved by the Institute of Social Communication, that they must be previously mapped to know the percentage of space available to place advertising messages.
“It is established that around a third of the available spaces can be used for the placement of commercial advertising,” he explained.
slow movement
Although it is an approved norm, the need for its rapid implementation has become evident in search of a favorable impact on the Cuban sports system in the midst of the economic situation that the country is experiencing.
These circumstances have often forced national events to be rescheduled, and even forced their suspension due to the difficulties faced to guarantee the necessary logistics for their celebration.
To the same extent, Cuba has been unable to hold traditional international competitions, and to guarantee the necessary training of its athletes in competitions outside the island.
Many see the implementation of advertising and sponsorship as a lifeline for events like the SNB. They even consider it as a first step to establish a Professional League that will improve the living conditions of its protagonists, one of the main causes of the exodus of Cuban athletes to other countries.
