Volleyball

Havana, Jun 27 (RHC) The decision of the U.S. embassy to deny visas to the delegation that was going to participate in a women's volleyball tournament in Puerto Rico is making headlines today in the main national media.

A statement issued Thursday by the Cuban Volleyball Federation (FCV, for its Spanish acronym) informed that the team would be unable to attend the NORCECA Final Four, scheduled for July 16-21, due to the denial of visas.

The text describes this measure as “unfair and discriminatory and contrary to the precepts of the sport”.

According to FCV, this procedure, contrary to the commitments inherent to the responsibility assumed by the host countries of international sporting events, hinders the presence of Cuba in a competition included in the qualification route to the Central American and Caribbean Games and scoring for the NORCECA and world rankings.

Several media outlets on the island use similar terms to describe this hostile behavior, in line with the policy of maximum pressure exerted by Washington on Havana since the return of Donald Trump to the White House.

Imperial arrogance, abuse of power, and disrespect for the rules of Olympism also rank among the most repeated judgments on digital social networks on the subject.

The denial or deliberate delay of visas to affect the participation of Cuban sports teams in tournaments organized in U.S. territory has become a common practice of the Washington government, denounced regularly by the island's authorities.