Cuba's sports movement is congratulated for results in 2021

Havana, January 29 (RHC)-- The president of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, today congratulated Cuba's sports movement for its performance in 2021 and, especially, for the results achieved in the Tokyo Games.

In a letter addressed to the Cuban Olympic Committee (COC) on the occasion of its general assembly, Bach described as successful the work of that entity to promote the sports movement in the largest of the Antilles and highlighted the 15 medals won by the island in the Japanese event, including seven gold medals.

In addition, he recalled the trajectory of this Caribbean nation in the five rings and the great effort made by its leaders and athletes to triumph in the Japanese competition, despite the complex health situation due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to the head of world sport, Cuba "is one of the most important territories within the Olympic movement throughout its history".

Once again, sport, formed both by its athletes and managers, showed that it is an essential element for the good development of the human being, he said before highlighting the work of the COC to overcome all adversities and exhorted it to continue its work in order to reap new successes.

COC president, Roberto León, thanked Bach for his words and wished him and all the organizers of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games success, despite the island's non-participation in the event.

For his part, the head of Panam Sports, Chilean Neven Ilic, praised in a video the work and collaboration of the island with that organization and described it as an example for the quality of its athletes, technicians and training methods.

Ilic expressed his willingness to continue helping this country in all areas and announced a visit to inaugurate the athletics track at the Pan American Stadium, donated by Panam Sports.

He also alluded to the need to work together in planning for the next four years, in which Cuba's solidarity with nations in the region will be key.

Another top international sports leader, the president of Centro Caribe Sports, Luis Mejía, took the opportunity to congratulate Cuban wrestler Mijaín López, Olympic champion for the fourth time in Tokyo, whom he praised for his humility and triumphs that make him a reference in Caribbean and Latin American sports.

Mejía evoked the support and solidarity of the Cuban sports movement towards the countries of the region and encouraged the COC to make its best effort to recover the lost ground.

The COC Assembly was attended by the heads of the respective National Federations and among the points discussed were the results of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games and the First Pan American Youth Games in Colombia, as well as the projections for the Paris 2024 Summer Games.

Among the topics disclosed were the presence of Cuba's sports movement in 161 international positions and the recruitment of 125 athletes in eight disciplines: baseball, basketball, handball, cycling, soccer, water polo, volleyball and softball, and the intention to increase that figure with the incorporation of boxing and wrestling.