President of the Portuguese Olympic Committee
Havana, September 16 (JIT) - The president of the Portuguese Olympic Committee (COP), José Manuel Marques Constantino Da Silva, visited on Thursday several institutions of the Cuban sports system.
At the University of Phal Culture and Sport Sciences Manuel Fajardo was received by its rector, Ms.C. Silvano Merced Len, who informed him about the work and projects of the institution that will be 50 years old in 2023.
"I know about the quality of the graduates here, by reference of professors who have worked in Portugal and other nations such as Guinea-Bissau and Angola," said the visitor, who will remain on the island until September 18.
Marques Constantino, accompanied by his Cuban counterpart Roberto León Richards, showed signs of being informed about the economic situation in Cuba, assuring that every nation has the right to choose its project and defend it. In this way, he made clear his position on the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the U.S. government on Cuba.
The distinguished visitor then toured the Cuban Sports Research Center, where its director, Dr. Jorge Pavel Pino, guided him through areas where science is done in favor of the nation's progress, especially in the field of sports.
"We dedicate 80% of our research to high performance," the host stressed in response to one of several questions asked by Da Silva.
Pino gave as an example of the success of the research carried out the one that allowed for an improvement of the Cuban two-seater canoe that won gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Thursday's afternoon tour included Inder's Ramal School, where its director Reinier Olivera Matos explained how much is done there for the improvement of managers and workers from different areas of the organization.
In all the places visited, including the José Smith Comas National Rowing and Canoeing School, where he arrived in the morning, the possibility of strengthening sports exchanges between both Olympic Committees was evidenced, which will be registered in the update of an agreement dating back to 2005.
Da Silva was accompanied by the COP sports director, Pedro Jorge Henriques Roque. The general secretary of the Cuban Olympic Committee, Ruperto Herrera Tabío, and the vice-president of Inder, Ariel Saiz Rodríguez, also took part in the tour.
This Friday, the signing of the new cooperation agreement between the COC and the COP will take place at the COC headquarters in the Cuban capital.
On Saturday, Da Silva is expected to visit the Mario López National Soccer School.
