Government admits that more than half of Cuba's sports facilities are in poor condition

More than half ofCuba's sports facilities are in poor construction conditions, including those that are part of schools and educational centers, as recognized by theDeputy Prime Minister Jorge Luis Perdomo Di-Lella.

In a report released by theCuban Television News, the official referred to the fact that most of these spaces could be dedicated to the recreation of the town, but admitted that this idea is impossible in the current circumstances.

Of the of theOf the 273 swimming pools that the national sports system has, only 27 are working, for 9.8%.

"How is it possible (...) that there are swimming pools in facilities that belong to the private sector (...) and the swimming pools that belong to the State cannot be recovered, little by little, and put into use for the recreation of young people "questioned the vice minister.

Perdomo suggested that although sport in Cuba should remain free, the services and recreational offers at the facilities of theNational Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation (INDER) They could be marketed especially due to the high demand they have in the summer.

The official stated that to obtain the necessary funds and repair these facilities it isnecessary to organize the accounting of the sports federations and the provincial directorates of the sector. He warned that problems are also evident on ball and soccer fields, on basketball and volleyball courts, and in gyms for combat sports.

The deputy prime minister's statements came in theINDER balance assembly on work in 2021, in which issues related to the selection and training of talents, the quality of Physical Education classes in schools, indiscipline in national events and the hiring of Cuban athletes abroad were also addressed.

In December 2021 it emerged thatThe Olympic pool on Isla de la Juventud was going to be repaired, after 13 years of deterioration and abandonment by local authorities. With a budget of more than a million dollars, the restoration of the cracks inside the pool is expected, as well as the surrounding buildings.

So far there is no deadline for the completion of the work, assumed by a company from Camagüey. For the reconstruction of the sports center, four pumps with their motors are necessary for recirculation, entry and exit of water and waterproofing material for the bottom of the pool.

The terrible construction conditions of Cuban sports facilities have an impact on the athletes who lose their training place and on the population, which is why it has been a visible phenomenon for years. In 2019 it was newspoor state of centers dedicated to the practice of boxing and ball in the Pinar del Río province.

Both spaces had collapses in the bathrooms and hallways, in addition to bad odors, leaks, lack of ventilation and problems in the electrical and plumbing networks. The athletes' bedrooms also lacked basic levels of hygiene and comfort.

In 2017,More than 300 facilities in Las Tunas were not suitable for sports activity. In this case, the overexploitation of the spaces and the lack of resources for adequate maintenance stood out as causes.