Cuban Olympic Committee denounced the action of the U.S. embassy in Havana for not granting visas to officials and athletes.
By: Roberto Morejón
The wide range of pressures of the U.S. blockade against Cuba includes the delay or denial of visas to delegations or individuals with any argument, or without it, and the procedure seems to be renewed under the reign of Marco Rubio in the State Department.
The Cuban Olympic Committee denounced the action of the U.S. embassy in Havana for not granting visas to officials and athletes.
As a result, the president of that entity and other executives and athletes were deprived of participating in important tournaments organized in the United States and Puerto Rico.
In the current year, Washington also denied visas to 14 Cuban representatives summoned to participate in a world athletics championship in Florida and the same thing happened with a basketball team that was to go to a qualifying tournament in Puerto Rico.
These are arbitrary procedures unrelated to sports, originated by political motivations inherent to the U.S. siege against the largest of the Antilles.
The United States, with Marco Rubio at the State Department, employs discriminatory practices that are contrary to the spirit of sport and the essential obligations and principles of Olympism.
During a press conference in Miami, Mike Hammer, chargé d'affaires at the US embassy in Havana, confirmed that his government is enforcing migratory laws that prevent certain visas being granted to Cubans, including those who have worked for state entities.
The diplomatic office admitted that it had denied family reunification visas to Cuban healthcare and education workers solely for having worked in these sectors.
Marco Rubio also announced an extension to visa restrictions for individuals associated with Cuban medical missions abroad.
Among the first measures adopted by President Trump in his second term was the reinstatement of the Caribbean country on the unilateral list of state sponsors of terrorism, and other sanctions were reinforced.
