Cuban President Receives International Paralympic Officials

Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic, received this Monday at the Palace of the Revolution the president of the International Paralympic Committee, Andrew Parsons, and the director of Development for the Americas of that organization, Michele Melissa Formonte.

According to sources from the Presidency, Díaz-Canel valued the visit as a gesture of support for Cuban sports and highlighted that it occurs at a complex moment for the country, which also affects the Paralympic movement.

The president expressed Cuba's political and governmental will to support Paralympic sports, for reasons of social justice and the Revolution's inclusive principles, and affirmed that national Paralympic athletes are a source of pride for their international results.

He ratified the willingness to share experiences with the International Paralympic Committee and the Americas Paralympic Committee, through joint projects, training bases, and the scientific contribution of research centers linked to sports.

Andrew Parsons described his presence in Cuba as an honor and highlighted the friendship between both countries. He recognized the career of multi-time Paralympic and world champion Omara Durand Elías, president of the Cuban Paralympic Committee, whom he considered an example for athletes, especially women.

The president of the International Paralympic Committee noted that the visit included the Solidarity with Panama school and Durand's training track, where they discussed programs and events to support the Cuban Paralympic movement.

Present at the meeting were Vice Prime Minister Inés María Chapman Waugh and the president of the National Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation (Inder), Osvaldo Vento Montiller.

Díaz-Canel reiterated that Cuba will continue defending inclusion and recognition of Paralympic sports, and stressed that the country is willing to contribute with development projects and international cooperation in this field.