The general director of High Performance of the National Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation (INDER), José Antonio Miranda, recognized that the constant flight of Cuban athletes during international events has greatly affected the Island’s performance.
During the program Round table dedicated to the upcoming Pan American Games, the official indicated that this was the reason why Cuba had had a poor performance during the international competitions held last year.
At the same time, he acknowledged that the Island has not won as many titles as in previous years because the problem is not limited to athletes, but is also observed in coaches.
“The migration of athletes and coaches has affected us. 109 athletes stopped being with us in 2022, and in 2023 78, many of them with commitments to the Pan American Games,” explained José Antonio Miranda, talking about the games that will take place in Chile between October 20 and November 5th.
It is important to note that the official tried, in some way, to blame the Island’s poor performance on the economic embargo that the United States maintains on the regime, but he was questioned by journalist Randy Alonso until he recognized that the leaks were the problem.
“That impact has been felt, that ‘campaign’ towards Cuba, yes, in relation to the emigration of athletes and coaches,” José Antonio Miranda acknowledged after the insistent questions.
According to the official, the constant flight of experienced athletes will make the Antillean delegation of 362 athletes chosen for the games in Chile, 18 women and 175 men, “very young.”
In that sense, the INDER representative recognized that 62% of these athletes have never attended an event of this type.
“This had not happened to us in previous cycles,” he stressed.
When reviewing figures from previous years, it can be seen that the Island will have a smaller number of qualified athletes, since only 362 will attend the event, while, in 2019, the Pan American Games in Lima registered the participation of 420.
This low number represents a lower opportunity to obtain medals, since Cuba will only participate in 232 events of the 425 that there will be in total during the games.
“Cuba’s main potential is between 18 and 22 gold medals. We will be working on that basis, although the scenario will decide to what extent we can fulfill that purpose,” said the official.
It is worth mentioning that, although José Antonio Miranda did not say it explicitly, there is also the possibility that several of the athletes who are traveling to Chile will take advantage of the opportunity to escape, so only time will tell how many medals the Major will obtain. Antilles.
