Cuban Delegation

Havana, July 10 (RHC) - The Cuban delegation said in an official statement that it fulfilled the main objectives that brought it to the XXIV Central American and Caribbean Games.

The text explains that the delegation that represented Cuba in the games declares that it has fulfilled the main objectives with which it assumed the privilege of defending the Lone Star Flag in the competition held in the Salvadoran capital and Santo Domingo, as a sub venue.

A few hours before completing the return to the homeland, we are grateful for the statements, telephone exchanges and other expressions of support received from the highest leadership of the country, with the leadership of the President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, the note specifies.

The broad support of millions of compatriots who enjoyed our successes and shared our frustrations, inside and outside the island, and the countless expressions of affection received in El Salvador and the Dominican Republic, worthy hosts of an event in which we felt the warmth of their peoples, are equally satisfying.

"As we predicted, we attended the most demanding edition of these meetings, in which Mexico and Colombia were consolidated as powers in the region, the seal of Cuban coaches acting with other countries (107 with more than 100 medals) was again evidenced; several disciplines hosted Olympic and world medalists and the dispute for places for the Pan American Games in Santiago 2023 became an additional incentive.

In this context, it is especially noteworthy that the delegation, entirely formed in our high performance schools, faced each outing with a mixture of dedication and enjoyment, attached to fair play and respect for the opponent; and aware that, beyond the result, we owe it to a people that knows how to reward nobility and decorum, although such attributes do not always lead to medals.

What we experienced in these dates of logical tensions confirmed the greatness of the sports system conceived by Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz, endowed with strengths from which the limitations of a preparation developed in the midst of the complex economic situation of the country, increased by the intensification of the U.S. blockade, which also leaves harmful traces in our sector, were faced.

That is why, while we reiterate our gratitude to the organizations and institutions that made this battle their own, in correspondence with the efforts of the state and the government, we are pleased to highlight the unwavering will of athletes, coaches, medical personnel and the other protagonists of a work also sustained by the passion of commissioners, federation officials and many other men and women who guarantee the functionality of our schools and other processes in which the necessary tools are forged to face tests such as these.

With that same impetus, and convinced that there are many steps that depend on working harder and better, we will project the course towards the Pan American Games that will begin in October, convinced of the value of the work of which we are exponents, alien to conformism, always with our sights set on higher goals and faithful to dignity as the most valuable medal. More challenges, more commitment!

Cuba relied on 499 athletes in 36 sports in the San Salvador Games, and participated in 356 of the 447 events.

The conquest of the 74 titles that topped the medal count, completed with 59 silver and 63 bronze medals, is in line with the purpose of obtaining between 70 and 80 ascents to the top of the podium.

These 74 titles surpassed by one the forecast resulting from the studies carried out by Inder's High Performance Direction, which set them at 73.

Twenty sports contributed titles: mainly wrestling (15), athletics (9), judo (9), shooting (5) and canoeing and swimming (4) each.

There was Cuban dominance in seven sports (wrestling, athletics, judo, table tennis, chess, handball and canoeing.

A total of 116 places were obtained in nine sports for the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games, including three with Olympic qualification marks in athletics.