Modern Pentathlon

A quartet of Cubans will attend the Modern Pentathlon World Cup in Mexico from February 25th to March 3rd this year, told AIN news agency Alejandro Guarsh, head coach of the national team of that discipline, who declared that the hosts invited 4 athletes and 1 coach with all expenses paid.

He added that the team will observe a previous 21-training days in a camp at high altitude in the Mexican capital to arrive in the best condition to face such strong competition that includes the best world figures.

Today, the Cuban national team covers 8 athletes, 4 women and 4 men, among which stand out Leydi Laura Moya, gold medal at Youth Olympics Games held in Singapore in 2010. The pentathlon, which is an Olympic sport, includes swimming, riding, fencing and combined events of shooting and running.

 Chess
The National Chess Championship (m) will run from today until February 5th at the Art Gallery of the City of Santa Clara with the participation of 14 players under the system of All Against All, but without the presence of GMs Leinier Dominguez (2754) Elo points and Lázaro Bruzón (2676).

According to specialists, the GMs Yuniesky Quesada (2642) and Isan Ortiz, current Cuban monarch (2601), are favorites for the crown, as in the previous edition both concluded equal in points, but the tie break favored Ortiz.

The event will also cope GMs Yuri González (HAB 2549), Yusnel Bacallao (MAT 2526) and Aramis Alvarez (VCL 2482), the MIs Carlos Hevia (HAB 2524), Diasmany Otero (VCL-2510), Alexei Fernández (VC 2463), Mariano Ortega (CAM 2460) and Roberto Garcia (HAB 2442), as well as FIDE aspiring teachers Yaser Quesada (VCL 2486), Quesada Liordis (SGO 2415), Leandro Guerra (GRA 2352) and Eduardo Mendez (HAB 2338).

 Volleyball

The team of Havana, Cuba's current monarch, gave in 0-3 sets before Matanzas on the opening day at the National Volleyball Championship (men), taking place at the Rafael Fortun Sports Palace, in the city of Camagüey.

Matanzas squad, led by Isbel Mesa, member of the Cuba's national team, won on Tuesday with partials of 25-19, 25-19 and 25-18, but in the hardest clash, Villa Clara defeated 3-2 to the hosts (23-25, 25-21, 20-25, 25-18, 15-9), while Santiago de Cuba defeated 3-0 (25-19,25-21,25-14) to Sancti Spiritus.

This Wednesday will be played the 2nd date of this initial round of All Against All tops with Villa Clara-Santiago de Cuba, Camagüey- Matanzas and La Havana vs. Sancti Spiritus.

Once this phase is finished, the 2nd round will be held in Sancti Spiritus and then the 4 teams with the best results in the classifying stage will discuss the national title in Santiago de Cuba.

Caribbean Baseball Series

Authorities of the Venezuelan state of Nueva Esparta are finalizing details for the Caribbean Baseball Series, which will start on February 1st in Margarita Island, official sources reported.

According to the most recent predictions by the Tourism Corporation, the arrival of 40,000 visitors, attracted to the natural richness of the territory and the bonus of this sports event, are expected.

With that purpose, additional transportation units, tourist trips, and 2,800 agents of different security corps, are also included to guaranteed the successful event.

The Caribbean Baseball Series will be played with participation of the champion teams of the professional leagues of Mexico (current champion), the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Venezuela, plus the Cuban team that will play as a guest.

The program published by the Organizing Committee establishes that the tournament will be disputed according to the system All Against All in a single round, with a one-day break for each of the participant teams, and the first 4 positions will go to the semi-final and the winners will go to the final.

Winter Olympic Games

Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the opening ceremony of the 22nd Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, in a show of support for the country's efforts to guarantee the success of the game, said Huang Yaling, secretary general of the China Sport Science Society.

Yaling told the press this is the first time a Chinese leader attends a major overseas sports event, demonstrating China's strong support for the Olympics and the future development of China-Russia relations. The Chinese President was invited by Vladimir Putin to attend the ceremony.

Chinese leaders are paying increasing attention to public diplomacy, public opinion and direct communication with people in other countries, which fit with the development of the modern world, another diplomatic innovation by the Chinese new leadership, experts interviewed by Xinhua agency said.