Baseball

Cuba now has permission from the United States Department of State to participate in the Caribbean Series, to be played from February 2nd-8th, said on Wednesday the president of the Caribbean Baseball Confederation.

"Everything about Cuba is solved. The only thing that remains is the subject of some visas, but the issue with OFAC is resolved," Puello Herrera said in an interview with The Associated Press.

Cuba participated in the Caribbean Series for the first time in 60 years in 2014 on Margarita Island, Venezuela, after a special permit issued by the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC, English acronym).

Permission had to be renewed this year, given that the Series will be played in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where Cuba will be represented by the team of Pinar del Río.

Puello also confirmed that the process of organizing the event which brings together the champion leagues of Venezuela, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and Cuba equipment is very advanced.

"In Puerto Rico everything is ready for this regional party and we all are just waiting to officially announce all countries' rosters and the whole event's schedule," Puello Herrera said.

Wrestling

Wrestlers from 15 countries, including Cuba, have so far confirmed their participation in the 46th Granma-Cerro Pelado International Wrestling Tournament, which will be held in Havana from February 10th-14th.

Brazil, Honduras, Peru, Puerto Rico, Canada, USA, Germany, Spain, Great Britain, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Poland, Switzerland, India and the national local team hosts have so far guaranteed their presence.

However, Manuel Rodriguez, a member of the Cuban Wrestling Federation, said that in coming days, Colombia, Panama, Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Italy are expected to certify their attendance.

According to the organizers, the fair will allow local figures to train for the most important sporting events of the year, including the Pan-American Games in Toronto (Canada) in July, and the World Wrestling Championship in Las Vegas, the United States, which will be held next September.

Among the world-renowned figures expected to attend will be Cuba's double Olympic champion and 5 times universal monarch, Mijaín López.

Sergey Bubka Presents Candidacy for President of the IAAF

The legendary Ukrainian former pole vaulter Sergey Bubka announced today his candidacy for president of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

I will push for the Presidency of the IAAF to give the world of athletics, which gave me so many opportunities throughout my life, what it deserves, Bubka was quoted by local media said.

The former athlete, who opted unsuccessfully in 2013 for president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), said his priority will be to promote athletics among the new generations and 'ensure clean sport'.

We must bring our sport to younger, both athletes and fans. Must find a new audience, he said.

Bubka, author of 35 world records during his time as an athlete, is vice president of the IAAF since 2007, and president of the Olympic Committee of his country since 2005.

However, the Ukrainian former champion will have a hard nut to crack in the British Sebastian Coe, who presented his candidacy in November, and is also vice president of the IAAF.

The double Olympic champion of mid-distance has also emphasized ethics to eradicate doping in athletics, and has the backing his successful leadership of the London Olympic organizing committee, 2012.

Elections to replace the Senegalese Lamine Diack, President of the IAAF since 1999 after the death of Italian Primo Nebiolo, will take place in August in Beijing, under the World Outdoors Championships.