Cuba to Hold National Olympiad

HAVANA TIMES, March 12 — The Cuban Sports Institute and Olympic Committee announced yesterday that the Fifth National Sports Olympiad will take place from May 15-29 in nine Cuban provinces.

The competition will include over 3,000 athletes from 30 different sports.  The event takes on greater importance for testing the island’s athletes since Cuba decided not to participate in the Central American and Caribbean Games to take place this July in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.

Cuba withdrew from the Games because, the United States, which dominates Puerto Rican security and foreign relations matters, was unwilling to provide the visas needed by the Cuban sports delegation nor equal lodging and other conditions provided the other country’s athletes, trainers and reporters.

The absence of Cuba at the Central American Games lowers considerably the level of competition.