The lawyer Alain Espinosa spoke about the treatment that the Cuban government gives to its athletes, following the protests that arose during the Cuba-Venezuela baseball game of the Pan American Olympic Qualifier, and its impact on the members of the national team.
The statements from the Cubalex collaborator responded to a comment from one of the viewers of the program Las mañanas de CiberCuba regarding the signs and boos directed at the Cuban government by fans gathered in the boxes and stands of the BallPark in West Palm Beach, which - according to the internet user - "only served to disrupt the players".
With the headline “Protests at the Cuba-Venezuela baseball game and the release of Luis Manuel Otero,” this Tuesday's broadcast highlighted the demonstrations against the Cuban regime during the opening game of the Pre-Olympic Tournament held at The BallPark of the Palm Beaches, Florida, where Venezuela defeated Cuba with a score of 6 runs to 5.
Although he understands that the situation may have been uncomfortable for the Cuban team players, the lawyer stated that "more than those posters, which are an exercise in freedom of expression and a reflection of the society in which the players themselves live, they are more outraged by the conditions under which the players compete".
Espinosa specifically referred to the impossibility for Cuban athletes to “control their own destinies as the rest of the players in the world do” and deemed it even more outrageous that Cuban athletes have their “personal possessions, such as phones, taken away”, the feeling of “being prisoners” and that "they may have to escape".
"It is no secret to anyone that after 10 at night, these players are confined to their rooms," he added, "guarded by state security agents."
The lawyer mentioned that it is equally troubling that "these individuals have their passports revoked, which prevents them from exercising their will," and that they are not allowed to socialize with their colleagues from other teams.
"If a colleague from another team invites the Cuban players 'to have a coffee, they cannot do so because they are deprived of freedom,' he said. Therefore, the attorney continued, 'instead of us focusing on the discomfort that a banner, a chant, or a call to attention about what is happening in Cuba may generate, we need to see how the treatment that the Cuban government gives to our athletes affects them.' he declared."
“That they cannot develop athletically, that they are not given the opportunity to access higher quality leagues and enhance all their abilities is what is truly outrageous here,” said Espinosa, inviting the audience to imagine a similar treatment for football stars like Lionel Messi, with an explicit prohibition on communicating with friends and family because his cell phone has been taken away.
The lawyer emphasized that “this kind of madness and incongruities are what we truly need to eradicate once and for all from our country… and it is what truly outrages: having to escape, as if they were prisoners, as if they were slaves”.
During the match this Monday, a Cuban-American young woman was escorted by Florida police after she stormed the field with a sign requesting freedom for Cuba.
Protected by the shouts of "Freedom!" from the fans, the daughter of Cuban exiles walked from the outfield to the bases and pitcher's area, under the astonished gaze of the players.
Other posters, songs, and slogans against the government of Cuba and its leaders were seen and heard not only at the BallPark but also crossed the screens of viewers on the island, thanks to the live broadcast of the first game of the Pre-Olympics.
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