Photo: @JUEGOSALBA2023

Caracas, April 22 (RHC)-- With the presence of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro Moros, the V ALBA Games were officially inaugurated on Friday, with stage at the Jorge Luis García Carneiro baseball stadium in La Guaira, Venezuela.

Undoubtedly, it was the beginning of the revival of the dream of its precursors, Presidents Fidel Castro Ruz and Hugo Chávez Frías, who created them with the purpose of making sports an important way to promote friendship, cooperation and integration among peoples.

The delegations of Cuba and the host country were very well applauded in the parade, two of the 11 that will participate until next 29th, with headquarters also in Caracas and Miranda, which will host in their facilities the 33 sports summoned, with a total of three thousand 500 athletes from 11 countries, with Russia as guest.

Athletes from Antigua and Barbuda, Bolivia, Dominica, Grenada, Nicaragua, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Russia were also welcomed with well-deserved applause.

The swearing-in of the delegations was in charge of the Venezuelan Minister of Youth and Sports, Mervin Maldonado, who highlighted that at this moment "integration becomes a sacred fire of hope".

Maldonado emphasized: "You, athletes, coaches, judges and referees, members of the delegations participating in the fifth edition of the Games are committed to be faithful defenders of solidarity, integration and brotherhood among our peoples".

The participants assured to respect the regulations of each of the disciplines, to defend the color of their jerseys and to offer a good show to the fans in the sports facilities.

The inaugural speech was given by the Venezuelan President, who welcomed the athletes from Latin America and the Caribbean, and Russia.

"Today begins these V ALBA Sports Games, which are part of the preparation schedule for the Paris 2024 Olympics. I hope that these days of sports participation, of competitions, will be very profitable for all of you," said the head of state of the South American nation.