This Monday, the National Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation (INDER) of Cuba recognized outstanding members of the national sports system with the delivery of Peugeot cars.
The ceremony, held at the Ciudad Deportiva Coliseum in Havana, brought together emblematic figures from various disciplines.
Wilmer Lewis Calvo, president of the National Commission for Attention to INDER Athletes, elaborated on the reasons for the recognition: “(…) for the displays of humility, dedication, commitment and dignity with which they highlight their competitive successes.”
However, the delivery of cars has not been without controversy. Cuban triple jump athletes, such as Lázaro Martínez (world indoor champion) and Cristian Nápoles (world and Pan American bronze), have expressed their discontent at not having been included.
Martínez wrote on Facebook: “Disappointments and disappointments. Many achievements and triumphs for your country and when it comes to encouragement, don’t let it be taken into account. Check yourself.”
Naples, for its part, commented to Play-Off Magazine: “I support Lázaro and myself too, because they did not take us into account even though last year we had relevant results. “We give everything in exchange for nothing.”
The Cuban triple jumper added: “It is not possible, being a top-level athlete, to have to catch a bus. I’m wasting my money on cars. When I ride the bus, people are amazed and look at me, as if thinking, it’s not possible. It’s not fair”.
DELIVERY OF CARS TO ATHLETES IN CUBA GENERATES CONTROVERSY
The reactions on social networks have not been long in coming. Some users criticize the lack of transparency in the selection of beneficiary athletes, while others defend INDER’s decision, arguing that there are not resources to reward everyone.
Leandro Daniel Carranza Leyet stated: “They are the most visible exponents of athletics today and with results. If they decide to emigrate or stay in other lands, we call them deserters and those who failed to comply with the ‘commitment made to the Cuban Sports Movement’. And who complies with them following so much sacrifice?
Bárbaro Moreno Ríos, for his part, expressed himself in a different way: “There is not something for everyone, in the other round they leave, the others deserved it too, whenever something is distributed, there is disagreement, we all believe that we should be among the chosen.”
The controversy highlights the complex reality of sport in Cuba, where high-performance athletes must face challenges such as lack of material resources, limitations to compete abroad and bureaucracy.
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