“'They slept on the ground and without food!'”: Mothers report abandonment of child athletes in Cuba

A group of young athletes from Isla de la Juventud was left stranded for more than 20 hours at the Santa Clara train terminal, without access to food, water, or basic conditions to rest, after participating in the National School Games.

The activist Lara Crofs, whose real name is Yamilka Lafita, echoed on social media a complaint that has sparked outrage and gone viral.

The complaint was led by Arianny, the mother of one of the minors, who stated that the children, aged between 13 and 15 years, were stranded without any real assistance from the INDER authorities or the local government.

“Since 6 in the evening, they haven’t eaten anything else. They were sleeping on the ground, exhausted, without even a snack,” Arianny recounted.

According to their testimony, the minors were not only ignored by the authorities, but also exposed to undignified conditions, unfit for any human being, let alone children who had represented their province in a national event.

The parents, in their attempt to seek answers regarding the situation, encountered evasions, empty promises, and comments they found offensive.

They were informed that there would be a transit school available in Mayabeque, more than 300 kilometers away, "when they arrived," without indicating how or when they would be transferred. Nevertheless, the athletes endured hunger, fatigue, and neglect.

"INDER has the capacity to sign contracts with foreign coaches, such as the Brazilian Luizomar de Moura, but cannot guarantee the safe return of young athletes to their homes," Crofs reported.

“This is not an isolated failure. It is a pattern of negligence that has become part of the system,” he added.

The sport of kayaking has a long tradition in the Isle of Youth, but that legacy seems to be abandoned today due to institutional neglect.

The sacrifice of coaches and the effort of families finds no support in a state structure that has lost the capacity to guarantee transportation, food, or even basic dignity for its youngest athletes.

Sports in Cuba need a profound and real change, where athletes are treated with respect and provided with the necessary support and attention to develop,” the activist finally stated.

Dporto Sports MEDIA also reported on the case and published an extensive message on Facebook, in which they shared a video sent directly by Arianny, the mother of one of the children, who turned to the media after exhausting all formal channels without success.

In her complaint, the mother detailed that the rowing team from Isla de la Juventud, a discipline considered a hallmark of the special municipality, fell victim to a series of neglects that included not only the endless wait at the Santa Clara terminal but also a complete lack of logistical support before, during, and after the event.

"Since yesterday at six in the afternoon when they ate at the event venue in Cienfuegos, until they boarded the train, they had no water or snacks. The only thing they ate in 23 hours was a bread with croquette," wrote Arianny.

According to their testimony, the minors were then sent to a transit school in Mayabeque, which had very poor conditions, while the authorities of INDER offered as their only response that they would be able to "eat and rest" for what had been achieved.

The mother further reported that, for months, the parents of the team have been warning about the precarious state of sports on the Island: the team does not have a K4 boat to compete, and the INDER management has refused to purchase one despite the existence of private producers in Villa Clara, and this was the only event they were able to attend this year, as neither tickets nor a truck to transport the boats were arranged.

This has happened because we parents have raised our concerns. No one seems to be interested. The director of INDER doesn’t answer the phone. Everything has been due to a lack of management,” insisted Arianny, who also highlighted that, despite everything, two of the athletes from Pine were selected for the national team thanks to their performance in these Games.

Dporto Sports MEDIA harshly criticized the institutional abandonment and questioned, "What is the point of holding an event without having the minimum conditions to avoid such blameworthy issues?"

And they concluded with a direct message: "But don’t take it out on me. Focus on resolving these situations and forget about the simple messenger. After all, those who are going through this very unpleasant time are those children. That is what should truly concern and interest us."

Frequently Asked Questions about the Abandonment of Child Athletes in Cuba