The pro-government program Mesa Redonda, created by Fidel Castro, presented a special award during the 2024 edition of Marabana, the iconic marathon in Havana, held this Sunday, November 17.
The first runners—man and woman—to reach the 25-kilometer mark received special awards, reported Cubadebate.
This section of the circuit, located in Monserrate at the height of the equestrian statue of National Hero José Martí, stands out for its symbolism, as it honors the Apostle at various key points along the route: Martí the thinker in Plaza de la Revolución, Martí the speaker in Parque Central, and Martí of the Anti-Imperialist Tribune.
The plaque presented by the Mesa Redonda is designed to highlight the legacy of a program dedicated to indoctrinating the Cuban people. It features the program's logo in high relief and an inscription that celebrates its purported impact on Cuban society.
According to Efe, a total of 2,367 Cuban and foreign athletes participated in the 38th edition of the event this Sunday, dedicated to the 505th anniversary of the Cuban capital and to Physical Culture and Sports Day.
The start and finish were marked in the Ramón Fonst multipurpose hall, located in front of the Capitolio in Havana, for the distances of 5, 10, 21, and 42 kilometers in the 38th edition of the event.
Winners: 10 km - Dayli Cooper - Pan American silver medalist in the 1,500 meters from Santiago de Chile 2023 - with a time of 0:35:37 minutes, and Alejandro Manuel Rodríguez, with a time of 0:31:50 minutes, both from Cuba.
21 km: Francisco Ronnei Estévez recorded a time of 1:06:51 hours, successfully defending his title in the half marathon. In the women's category, Anisleidis Ochoa won with a time of 1:15:21 hours.
42 km: Dairan Suárez (m) and Milena Pérez (f), with times of 2:37:28 and 3:03:37 hours, respectively.
La Mesa Redonda is a program created in 1999 in the context of the so-called "Battle of Ideas," promoted by Fidel Castro. Since then, it has served as a platform for analysis on national and international issues. However, it has faced criticism for its official stance and its limited focus on the narrative of the Cuban government.
Airing daily, the program is hosted by journalists who address political, economic, social, and cultural issues. According to analysts, its content often emphasizes the achievements of the Cuban socialist system and attributes the island's problems to the U.S. embargo. A plurality of opinions and critical voices towards the government are absent from its format.
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