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Cuban sports is experiencing one of its most critical moments in decades, severely affected by blackouts, food shortages, and a lack of material resources, which have particularly impacted high performance and hindered the training of athletes, acknowledged the regime.
Authorities from the National Institute of Sports, Physical Education, and Recreation (Inder) stated before the National Assembly of People's Power that more than 50% of the activities on the sports calendar were canceled due to the energy crisis, and that the food situation is complex, reported the official website Cubadebate.
Cristina Luna Morales, chair of the Health, Culture, and Sports Commission of Parliament, emphasized that this situation has led to a decrease in the number of individuals engaging in physical and sports activities across the country.
In terms of results, Luna Morales acknowledged that national baseball continues to be in free fall, as the expected technical and tactical levels were not reached in the Elite League or in the National Series.
"The quality parameters were insufficient," said the official, while acknowledging dissatisfaction with the system for supporting the country's sports heroes due to a lack of active participation in sports development.
Regarding the nutrition of high-performance athletes, they stated that it is severely affected by the lack of products and the rise in prices.
According to Osvaldo Vento Montiller, president of Inder, gardens have been created and agreements made with agricultural producers to "minimally" ensure the diet of athletes in key centers such as EIDE and EPEF.
Regarding the planned sporting events for 2024, Vento Montiller reported that 555 competitions were included in the schedule, of which only 288 (52%) took place.
Out of the 47 scheduled international events, only 19 (40%) took place, while 24 were canceled due to decisions by international federations or a lack of foreign participation, he detailed.
Additionally, the island has been suffering from a decline in performance and results in international events for years, including key sports such as boxing and baseball.
A few years ago, it was revealed that the food provided to the players of the National Football Championship in Cuba was terrible: a tray with a little bit of ground beef, cucumber, and rice was all that the athletes from Isla de la Juventud were fed.
Reports from other regions of the country, such as Las Tunas and Sancti Spíritus, also reported a similar crisis regarding the athletes' nutrition.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Crisis in Cuban Sports
How do power outages affect high-performance sports in Cuba?
Power outages have forced the cancellation of more than 50% of the planned sporting activities, which has hindered the preparation of athletes. The lack of electricity impacts both training and competitions, limiting the development of high-performance sports on the island.
What is the situation regarding food for Cuban athletes?
The nutrition of high-performance athletes is severely affected by the scarcity of products and rising prices. Gardens have been established, and agreements with agricultural producers have been made to minimally ensure the diet of athletes in key centers.
What impact does the economic crisis have on Cuba's sports calendar?
The economic crisis has led to the cancellation of 48% of planned sporting events for 2024, including international competitions. This is due to a lack of resources and foreign participation, which impacts sports development on the island.
How does the energy crisis affect Cuban baseball?
Cuban baseball continues to decline due to blackouts and a lack of resources, which has hindered the achievement of expected technical and tactical levels. The energy crisis has impacted the quality of play and the organization of the Élite League and the National Series.
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