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The Cuban Federation of Modern Pentathlon (FCPM) has signed a sponsorship agreement with the local brand Venko, marking the first contract of this kind between a Cuban sports entity and a national private sector company.
The agreement is supported by the Resolution 41/2025 from the president of the National Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation (INDER) and was highlighted by Frank Alberto Martínez, head of the FCPM, as a milestone amidst the challenges facing sports on the island.
"In the midst of challenges and limitations, our sport continues to progress steadily, supported by the talent, discipline, and determination to overcome of those who are part of it," declared Martínez to the sports newspaper JIT.
Venko is a company in the Cuban non-state sector dedicated to the design and manufacturing of technical apparel specifically created for physical performance and sports training.
According to the terms of the agreement, the brand will provide the FCPM with uniforms, training apparel, and technical equipment, as well as textile technology adapted to the demands of the sport: lightness, breathability, and durability.
The sponsorship also includes cooperation with the visual identity and institutional image of the federation.
Martínez emphasized that Venko "is part of a new generation of sports projects that combine innovation, modern design, and a commitment to the development of sports, aiming to support athletes and institutions in their advancement."
The agreement comes at a crucial time for the FCPM, which is preparing for the Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo 2026, the first major international commitment of the new Olympic cycle.
"This alliance symbolizes trust in our sports project and in the future we are building towards significant international commitments," Martínez stated.
The legal framework that makes this contract possible is the Law 179 of the Cuban Sports System, approved in July 2025 by the National Assembly of the People's Power and published in the Official Gazette on January 13, 2026, with an expected entry into force on May 13, 2026.
This law, which consists of five titles, 26 chapters, and 253 articles, formalizes private sponsorship -both national and foreign- in the island's sports.
Until its approval, any sponsorship was carried out, according to the authorities themselves, "exceptionally" and without a clear legal framework.
The regulation integrates the non-state sector into the Cuban sports system and also opens the door to foreign companies.
Karel Luis Pachot Zambrana, legal director of INDER, clarified that the status of being a national or foreigner does not limit the possibility of participating in sponsorship activities within sports on the island.
This change is part of the profound economic crisis that Cuba is experiencing, which has led the regime to seek new sources of funding for the sports system.
Nevertheless, skepticism persists among potential investors due to the lack of strong legal guarantees and the risk of sudden regulatory changes, a constant in the economic history of the regime.
Regarding the recent results of Cuban modern pentathlon, the discipline achieved four medals at the Central American and Caribbean Games in San Salvador 2023 and an Olympic spot at the Pan American Games in Santiago 2023, which strengthens the expectations placed on the new cycle that begins with the support of this pioneering agreement.
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