The ruler Miguel Díaz-Canel led this Tuesday the small delegations from Cuba that will compete in the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris 2024.
Greco-Roman wrestler Mijaín López, from the 130-kilogram division, received the banner on behalf of the 62 qualifiers -the smallest group since Tokyo 1964- who will be in the fair for conventional athletes.
López, four-time king under the shadow of the five rings, will seek in the French capital his fifth golden medal, a feat not achieved so far by any Cuban, nor in his discipline either.
Meanwhile, the stellar athletes Omara Durand and Robiel Yankiel Sol did so in the case of disabled athletes, on behalf of the 17 qualified individuals - so far - in six sports.
According to JIT, at the base of the monument to José Martí in the Plaza de la Revolución in Havana, Olympic champion in Greco-Roman wrestling, Luis Alberto Orta, read out the commitment of the members of the two delegations.
To squander dignity and total commitment, in line with the privilege it is to defend the flag of the lone star, so that once again the Fatherland may gaze upon us with pride," Orta stated in a speech where he did not forget to repeat the tired praises of the late Fidel Castro's legacy.
Cuba aspires to rank among the top 20 countries in the medal table and win five titles in the conventional event, scheduled from July 26 to August 11, according to sports authorities' predictions.
At Tokyo 2020, Cuba won a total of 15 medals, seven of them gold, three silver, and five bronze, and placed fourteenth in the overall standings.
These results surpassed the performances of Beijing 2008 (three golds, 10 silvers, and 17 bronzes), London 2012 (five, seven, and 15), and Rio de Janeiro 2016 (five, two, and four).
Despite the ongoing crisis in the country, Cuban Television announced that it will broadcast the events of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Sports commentator and narrator Pavel Otero, one of the spokespersons of the government on the screens, was once again in charge of sharing the news on his Facebook social media page.
At the same time, in a return to the classic style, Cuba will once again wear Adidas clothing for its participation in both events. The government put an end to an era with the Puma brand, which they had been using since 2015.
The decision to wear Adidas gear was announced during a special gala in Paris, where the famous company presented its new line of outfits for the upcoming Olympic competitions.
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