Colombia Ready to Knock Off Cuba in Barranquilla

(ATR) Colombia dreams of displacing Cuba at the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games in Barranquilla, one month away.

The Games take place July 19 to August 3.

In the last 60 years Cuba has not been in first place in the medals table only when it has been absent from the games. That happened in 1959, 2002 and 2010.

Baltazar Medina, the president of the Colombian Olympic Committee, tells Around The Rings that the spectacular triumph of his country at the South American Games in Cochabamba, Bolivia is encouraging Colombian athletes for a similar great performance in Barranquilla.

"Let's say that that spirit will help us fight Cuba for first place, and also for Venezuela," says Medina.

"That is our main objective, for that we are preparing," he says.

Colombia managed to lead the medal table over favorite Brazil in the South American Games that ended at the start of the month.

Colombian supremacy was notable in cycling, boxing, sports shooting, water sports and speed skating.

Medina rejects the idea that the Colombian performance was due to the absence of top Brazilian competitors.

"We could also make a long list of Colombian sports stars that were not there," he says. "That analysis allows any country to explain away their defeats."

Medina is also the president of the Barranquilla Organizing Committee 2018.

He reveals that there are some venues not yet complete. But he says he is not concerned that the aquatic complex and the volleyball arena won't be ready in time.

"Our goal is that in the first week of July we can receive all the venues to start the trials," he says.

The Olympic leader confirms that the IOC recognized anti-doping laboratory in Salt Lake City, Utah will be used for testing.

At the Barranquilla games, athletes from 37 countries will compete for qualification in 16 sports for the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima.

For the first time, six countries will compete in their capacity as members associated with the Central American and Caribbean Sports Organization (CACSO): Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guyana, Turks and Caicos, San Martin and Curaçao.

Medina tells Around the Rings he hopes that good relations with the government will continue after the victory of Ivan Duque in the June 17 presidential election.

"The country has found an effective working model," he says.

"We have been very successful in the relationship with the State through Coldeportes and its territorial sports entities and the associated sport through the Olympic Committee and the different federations. Colombian sport has reached a very high level," says Medina.

Reported by Miguel Hernandez .