U. S. Returns to Cuban Track after 17 Years
The last time the U.S. track athletes set foot on Cuban soil was 17 years ago, in the 1992 World Cup. Due to President Barack Obama’s efforts to diffuse tensions with the socialist country, < a href=”http://www.reuters.com/article/sportsNews/idUSTRE54R7HC20090528″>American track and field athletes are coming back to compete in two events: the Copa America and the Barrientos Memorial track and field tournament. A team of thirteen American athletes will battle against nearly 240 athletes from 15 countries at Havana’s Pan-American Stadium. Some of the countries to participate at the event include Canada, Chile, Venezuela, Brazil and the Dominican Republic. Doug Logan of the USA Track & Field organization points out the importance of its participation, saying, “As an organization, we had an obligation to re-establish friendships in the Caribbean and re-establish the people-to-people tradition we had with the Cuban people.” He added that with a new president elected, it is an entirely different season with sports, and the Cuban meet is a new opportunity for U.S. sports. Currently, talks have focused on increasing track and field events between the two countries, long-standing enemies since Fidel Castro’s victory in the 1959 revolution. Cuban sports commissioner Esteban Brice said American presence at the games was met with “pleasure” and “seriousness.” The BZ News Network is your best stop for political news
