Havana, November 24 (RHC) – The United States government has denied nearly 100 visas to Cuban athletes, coaches, and sports officials since the beginning of 2025, preventing their participation in qualifying events for the 2028 Olympic Games.
Entire delegations have been unable to attend competitions or even technical meetings that are part of the path to the summer games in Los Angeles.
That’s why the international campaign Let Them Play was launched to defend the right of Cuban athletes to compete, develop, and represent their country on equal terms.
“When a country denies an athlete the fundamental right to compete, it not only disrupts the sporting calendar; it also harms careers, individual efforts, collective dreams, and the possibility of representing an entire nation with dignity.”
Yasser Ibarra, first secretary of the Cuban embassy in Washington.
And yes, these obstacles are part of a broader policy of pressure and hostility that also manifests itself in the sports arena, another expression of the pressure exerted on the Cuban people, the diplomat added during a virtual meeting this Sunday. The first international gathering included activists from not only the United States but also from Africa, Latin America, Europe, and Canada.
That is why this new campaign is so important. Let Them Play is not a slogan; it is a fundamental call for justice, he emphasized.
“We want our athletes to have access to qualifying competitions, and even if they secure their Olympic spot, we want to ensure they don’t face any new excuses or obstacles.”
The Hands Off Cuba Committee in Los Angeles, which is leading the initiative, proposes sending messages to members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and seeking the support of personalities, celebrities, and sports figures for this campaign, among other actions.
“While the Hands Off Cuba Committee of Los Angeles initiated this campaign, it will be a broad international crusade open to everyone on every continent.”
Mark Friedman, one of the coordinators of the solidarity group.
The campaign in the United States has the support of, among others, the National Network on Cuba, a coalition of more than 60 organizations.
The 2028 Olympic Games will take place in Los Angeles from July 14 to 30, marking the third time the California city has hosted the sporting event.
The opening and closing ceremonies are scheduled to take place at the iconic Memorial Coliseum, and the competition will include more than 35 sports, with new additions such as flag football, cricket, lacrosse, and squash, as well as the return of baseball and softball to the Olympic program.
