Mijaín López denounces visa denials to Cuban athletes

Havana, July 18 – The complaint filed before the National Assembly of People's Power (Parliament) by five-time Olympic champion Mijaín López regarding the repeated denials of visas by the United States to athletes from the island is making headlines in the Cuban press today.

López, a consecutive winner in Greco-Roman wrestling at the Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio de Janeiro 2016, Tokyo 2020, and Paris 2024 Olympic Games, presented a statement condemning this hostile policy by the Washington government, which was unanimously approved.

According to sources from the island's Sports Institute, the political handling of visas by the U.S. Embassy in Havana has resulted in 81 incidents affecting athletes, coaches, and officials this year.

The source indicates that in some cases, the permit is denied and in others, its granting is delayed, despite the applicants completing the required procedures on time and properly according to the U.S. diplomatic mission.

Visa problems have affected Cuban athletes in table tennis, basketball, athletics, football, triathlon, fencing, volleyball and softball, as well as officials of the Cuban Olympic Committee who were unable to attend meetings of Panam Sports, the governing body for sport on the continent.

The arbitrary action of the government of Washington with the sports movement in Cuba does not respect the values of Olympism and fails to comply with the commitment of the host countries to guarantee the attendance of all participants.

The most high-profile case occurred a few days ago, when the Little League girls' softball team was unable to travel to Puerto Rico after visas were denied for the seven adult members of the delegation.

Such behavior by the White House could affect the island's participation in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. (Source: Prensa Latina)