The will to strengthen the efforts that have allowed the preservation of sports vitality prevailed today at the general assembly of the Cuban Olympic Committee (COC), which reviewed its work in 2025 and the main missions identified for the current year.

Amid situations generated by the economic aggression intensified by the United States government—with very concrete expressions in this field—the cohesion that characterizes joint work with INDER, the state governing body of sports, was highlighted.

Led by COC President Roberto León Richards and featuring INDER President Osvaldo Vento Montiller as a guest, the meeting praised actions designed to ensure responses to major commitments, while regretting unavoidable absences.

In keeping with this, the meeting emphasized the role assigned to the more than 100 officials holding international positions and the need to prioritize resource management generated through solidarity programs and other formulas established by regional, continental, and global organizations.

At the Hotel Parque Central, in dialogue with federation presidents, national commissioners, and other executives, the evaluation of the island’s athletic reserve that fed into the II Asunción Junior Pan American Games was considered positive, adjusting to the phased development plan designed for them.

It was specified that part of that reserve is included in a pre-selection of 784 competitors from which the delegation to the Santo Domingo 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games will be drawn, scheduled for July 24 to August 8 as the year’s main multi-sport event.

In that regard, it was updated that 458 athletes (250 men and 208 women) have qualified in 35 sports, with athletics and tennis still pending quota allocations. After those are confirmed, the number of competitors in the Dominican capital is expected to reach between 507 and 510.

It was also explained that the quota allocation system for the IV Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games will allow Cuba to participate with 12 athletes: eight in baseball5 (four men, four women), three in athletics (zero men, three women), and one in judo (zero men, one woman).

The gathering began with a well-deserved tribute to Cuban sports legends who passed away in recent months and also allocated time for debate on other issues such as international relations, anti-doping control, logistical support, and athlete development.