The First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) and president of the Republic Miguel Diaz-Canel called on sports authorities on the island to use the tools of science and innovation to regain the top places occupied by the country.

Havana, October 8 (RHC)-- The First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) and President of the Republic Miguel Diaz-Canel called on sports authorities on the island to use the tools of science and innovation to regain the top places occupied by the country.

This call was made during a meeting with athletes, coaches and representatives of the sports sector at the Palace of the Revolution, where topics such as training in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and participation in the last Tokyo Olympics were discussed.

According to national television, the participants exposed the need for the implementation of science in each discipline and to outline strategies, taking into account the high level of world sport.

Other topics discussed were the recruitment of athletes abroad and the challenge this poses for the country, as well as the preparation of coaches with the support of practical knowledge and scientific research.

On this aspect, the president pointed out the need for a purposeful preparation, not only with the elements of sport, but also of management and direction.

He urged to revitalize volleyball to take it back to the levels where it was years ago, for what this sport represented with a successful generation of athletes and as a school for the world.

Athletes and directors also referred to the payment systems and the deterioration of some facilities, including the Volleyball Training Center.

Baseball was also discussed and it was advocated to rescue the massiveness and competitive schedules, to achieve improvements in the material field and to strengthen the legal issue in the contracting of baseball players abroad.