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CENTRAL AMERICAN & CARIBBEAN GAMES
A fierce but friendly rivalry
Oscar Sánchez Serra
VERACRUZ.—“A large part of our delegation is now
here and we are happy to convey to our people the
enthusiasm and high level of motivation felt by
Cuban athletes, who have arrived convinced of their
strengths and potential in all of the competitions
in which they will participate,” said Antonio Becali
Garrido, president of Cuba’s Institute of Sports,
Physical Education and Recreation (INDER), upon
landing in this city for the 22nd Central American
and Caribbean games, which will be inaugurated
tomorrow, November 14.
Becali reiterated that the athletes’ goal is to
continue the country’s history of winning the medal
count, as Cuba has always done - when it has
participated -since the initiation of the Games in
Panama, in 1970.
As
for the rivalry between Mexico and Cuba, and the
speculations circulating giving the advantage to the
host country, Becali commented, “We are in a
much-loved country, in a state of this nation to
which we are fraternally linked, with strong
historical ties. Here, in Tuxpán, the victory of our
revolution was practically born, when the yacht
Granma departed from its coast. But these same
characteristics which unite us are also what give us
the strength to come here, and fulfill our
commitment to finish in a place of honor in the
medal count.”
The
INDER president recalled that, precisely in Tuxpán’s
waters, Cuban rowers and paddlers hope to win the
country’s first gold medals.
He
added that Mexico is talking about 129 medals,
saying, “No doubt they are very well prepared, but
perhaps they are not considering the level of our
athletes. I don’t think the analysis should be based
on what happened four years ago in Mayagüez-2010,
when we weren’t present.”
Becali concluded, “It will be a
pleasurable rivalry, and contribute to the spectacle
and the quality of sports in Central America and
Caribbean.”
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