Cuba's National Institute of Sports has welcomed a donation from the Chinese government to help local athletes ease the burden of a lack of sporting resources due to U.S. sanctions.
The donation ceremony took place at Havana's Cerro Pelado High Performance Training School, as athletes, trainers and officials looked on.
"I expect that these resources help Cuban athletes train and better prepare for upcoming competitions, and I wish this cooperation to keep on successfully, and significantly contributes to step up the construction of a Cuba-China community of shared future," said Hua Xin, Chinese Ambassador to Cuba.
Cuban sports authorities appreciated China's support.
"Despite the difficulties inflicted by the tough U.S. sanctions, and the oil-blockade on our sector, China has always expressed its friendly support, which shows again today through this gesture," said Coralia Marquez, director of Higher School of Athlete Training.
Cuba's government has long-backed sports participation from early ages. The island country has a large and successful sports record, in regional and international competitions, at Olympic and Paralympic games, including boxing and baseball.
A thaw in U.S.-Cuba relations during the Obama administration allowed for sports exchanges -- including letting Cuban players go to the U.S. But that all faded away when President Donald Trump was first elected in 2016.
U.S. sanctions have since restricted Cuban purchase of sports equipment and items for local training centers like this one as well as high-performance athletes. Other measures include the denial or delay of visas for Cuban athletes and restrictions of participation and hosting international championships.
"This is affecting us. The current U.S. oil blockade causes blackouts during our evening rest which affects our daily training. This Chinese donation provides us with items we badly need," said Fernando Arzola, silver medalist of super heavyweight IBA World Championships.
"We are grateful to China for this donation of basic items for our sports training, because we need for instance, wrestling shoes, judo kimonos, basketballs, and other items, which are restricted under the U.S. sanctions," said Milaimys Marin, gold medalist of 2023 Pan American Games.
The donation ceremony also included performances of Tai Chi by senior citizens and rhythmic gymnastics with school athletes.
Chinese aid helps Cuba's sports community handle U.S. sanctions fallout
