Sportsmen and scientists, united by their love for Cuba.    Photo: Ricardo Lopez Hevia/periódico Granma

Havana, December 24 (RHC)-- A lucid award gala for the best exponents of Cuban sports in the year 2021 took place on Thursday at the Martí Theater in Havana, presided over by Jorge Luis Broche Lorenzo, member of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba; and Jorge Luis Perdomo Di-Lella, deputy prime minister of the Republic.

In the evening to award athletes and coaches, recognition was given to star athletes Mijaín López and Idalys Ortiz, in Greco-Roman wrestling and judo, respectively, as well as to non-conventional runner Omara Durand, who won not only the votes of specialists, but also of the Cuban people in general, for their excellent performances in the year that is coming to an end.

The gala had a special invitation to the leaders of Cuban vaccines to face Covid-19, headed by Eduardo Martinez Diaz, director of the Group of the Biotechnological and Pharmaceutical Industries of Cuba (Biocubafarma), who received recognition from Osvaldo Vento Montiller, the head of the National Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation (Inder).

Mijaín Lopez dedicated his award to all the people of Cuba, especially to the educators and their teachers for whom he feels great pride.

"I am also happy to be here next to all the doctors who faced the pandemic. Unity is what makes us proud to be Cubans," said the four-time Olympic champion in Greco wrestling.

Photo: Ricardo López Hevia

Meanwhile, the young diver Anisley García, double champion in the I Pan American Junior Games of Cali 2021, expressed that after a luxury Olympic Games for Cuba with its seven gold medals in Tokyo, the young athletes faced the I Pan American Junior Games, in Cali, and achieved very favorable results.

"On behalf of the athletes who competed there, I thank the government, the management of Inder and especially the Cuban scientists for giving us back our lives," said the Havana native.