(ATR) All eight teams competing in the Olympic Baseball Qualifying Tournament of the Americas are now in Florida, following the arrival of the Cuban team to West Palm Beach.
After a lengthy delay the Cubans received their visas on Tuesday at the United States Embassy in Havana, an unusual circumstance given that since 2017 the diplomatic office there has not offered consular services due to Washington sanctions against Cuba.
It is unknown if this relaxation of the restrictions was exceptional, or if in the next few days another Cuban sports delegation will be allowed to carry out the procedures in the Cuban capital. Starting in July, the Cuban soccer team must compete in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in an elimination group for the Gold Cup that will be played that month in various U.S. cities.
Regarding the decision with baseball, many Cuban families have expressed their hopes on social networks that this action could be a good sign that the Biden Administration may reactivate consular services on the island. Thousands of cases of family reunification and granting of visas are stalled. Cubans have to move to third countries for these procedures.
The 40 members of the Cuban baseball delegation, including 26 players, are already settling into a Palm Beach hotel after complying with the first requirements of the Covid-19 protocols.
Cuba vs Venezuela and Puerto Rico vs Dominican Republic will open the tournament on May 31 that will award a ticket to the Olympic tournament in Tokyo. Also on opening day, the United States will face off against Nicaragua and Colombia against Canada. The Americans are the favorites to win the qualifier.
Teams that finish in second and third places will advance to the World Olympic Qualifier in Mexico.
Last week Mexico agreed to organize that tournament in less than a month after the sudden resignation of Taiwan due to the covid-19 pandemic.
The WBSC must announce in the next few hours the date and the Mexican city that will serve as headquarters.
The Cuban Federation thanked the support found in the World Baseball and Softball Confederation, the Organizing Committee, the Olympic and Paralympic Committee of the United States and USA Baseball, in the management of the visa solution.
Written and reported by Miguel Hernandez
For general comments or questions,click here.
Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.
Últimas Noticias
Utah’s Olympic venues an integral part of the equation as Salt Lake City seeks a Winter Games encore
Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation chief of sport development Luke Bodensteiner says there is a “real urgency to make this happen in 2030”. He discusses the mission of the non-profit organization, the legacy from the 2002 Winter Games and future ambitions.
IOC president tells Olympic Movement “we will again have safe and secure Olympic Games” in Beijing
Thomas Bach, in an open letter on Friday, also thanked stakeholders for their “unprecedented” efforts to make Tokyo 2020 a success despite the pandemic.
Boxing’s place in the Olympics remains in peril as IOC still unhappy with the state of AIBA’s reform efforts
The IOC says issues concerning governance, finance, and refereeing and judging must be sorted out to its satisfaction. AIBA says it’s confident that will happen and the federation will be reinstated.
IOC president details Olympic community efforts to get Afghans out of danger after Taliban return to power
Thomas Bach says the Afghanistan NOC remains under IOC recognition, noting that the current leadership was democratically elected in 2019. But he says the IOC will be monitoring what happens in the future. The story had been revealed on August 31 in an article by Miguel Hernandez in Around the Rings
North Korea suspended by IOC for failing to participate in Tokyo though its athletes could still take part in Beijing 2022
Playbooks for Beijing 2022 will ”most likely” be released in October, according to IOC President Thomas Bach.
