Bach, Ilic and Leon Richards cut the ribbon marking the official opening of the new track in Havana. Author: Ariadna Prado Cabale
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach cut the opening ribbon of the new Pan American Stadium in Havana this Friday morning in the company of Panam Sports CEO Neven Ilic and Roberto Leon. Richards, his counterpart from the Cuban Olympic Committee (COC). This symbolic and brief moment was the most significant moment of the second and last day of the German visit to Cuba.
Under the stormy sun typical of the Greater Antilles, at just 10 am Bach, Ilic and company entered the Pan American Stadium, where a large number of athletes from the island were waiting for them, some of whom had already qualified for the competition. upcoming regional multi-sport events, as well as a career for the next Olympic cycles. Inder president Osvaldo Vento was also in attendance, as were sports stars led by two-time five-ring champion Alberto Juantorena.
It was the legendary runner who gave Bach a signed shirt with his name on it so he could wear it as a memento of his time in Havana. The central axis of the meeting, the official opening of the track, was the result of a donation made by Panam Sports and Olympic Solidarity to the Cuban sports movement.
Photo: Ariadna Prado Cabale
“I am very happy to be in this beautiful land and I want to thank President Bach for this visit to our region. This is an award for Cuba’s work, for its efforts and, above all, for its history. With his presence, he tells them: thank you for everything you have done for the benefit of the sport. You should be proud that he chose such countries of great importance as Cuba,” Neven Ilic said in protocol comments after the inauguration.
And he added that “we spoke with Bach following the results of the stadium, that this track is alive, which I was able to verify during my last visit to Havana two years ago. That’s why there was a collaboration that is a message for Cuba: you deserve a better track because you have a great history and a great future. I will be waiting for you in Santiago de Chile at the Pan American Games,” the head of Panam Sports commented to the athletes present.
Photo: Ariadna Prado Cabale
For his part, Thomas Bach ended up having an exchange with the press, in which he once again expressed his admiration for the athletes who trained on this island and described his stay in Cuba as “very exciting”. After learning about the preparations for the 2024 and 2028 Olympic Games in Paris, I was very impressed with the conditions for athletes and the favorable system for developing Olympic values, he added.
“Cuba sends coaches, doctors and specialists to other countries, which speaks well of its solidarity, so I am very happy to be here and told the country’s Olympic community that they can be very proud of all the achievements that have been achieved,” Bach. argued in front of the media.
Photo: Ariadna Prado Cabale
In addition, the head of KOC assured that the gestures of solidarity between the IOC and Panam Sports will allow Cuban athletics representatives to present medals to the island’s delegation at the Pan American, Central American and Caribbean Games, as well as at the Olympic Games. next year in the country 2024.
Source: Juventud Rebelde
