Cuba assures its right to participate in the Americas’ pre-Olympic baseball competition

Baseball federations, prominent individuals and even international sports, together with public opinion, forced the Bush regime to allow Cuba to participate in the 2006 World Baseball Classic.

(May 27) – After weeks of delays, on the afternoon of May 25, the Cuban Baseball Federation (FCB) was notified of the emission of visas requested at the U.S. embassy in Havana for our national baseball team to travel to the state of Florida, to compete in the continental pre-Olympic tournament of the Americas, intent upon qualifying for the Tokyo Games.

“Cuba is grateful to all the institutions and individuals who, with good will and active interventions, contributed to overcoming the multiple obstacles to guaranteeing the participation of our national baseball team in the pre-Olympic in Florida,” stated Party Political Bureau member and Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla.

The FCB, for its part and in the name of millions of compatriots anxiously awaiting these games, also recognized the efforts of the World Confederation of Baseball and Softball, the Organizing Committee, the United States’ Olympic Committee and Baseball USA, for their support to “concretizing a right which is legitimately ours,” adding that the players will participate with “the dignity, team spirit and commitment to fair play which characterize the Cuban sports movement.”

The news was welcomed by players who have been waiting for this decision, which, as has been reiterated over the last few days, is imperative to realizing their aspiration to struggle for the dream of competing in

Cuba has scheduled training games with Nicaragua and subsequently the Dominican Republic, which are essential to fine-tuning details before the team’s first game of the tournament, with Venezuela as their rival.

Oscar Sánchez Serra, Granma

‘Era of tampering’ has arrived in US college football

Organized cheating by rich US universities to recruit young athletes | Alex Scarborough, ESPN

(May 24) – It was late December, not yet the end of the season, and already the wolves were circling. An assistant at a high-level Power 5 program knew two of his school’s best young players — one on offense and one on defense — were being actively recruited by other programs. In fact, he said, it was “unbelievable” how many coaches were reaching out to players on his team’s roster.

“The cheaters,” the frustrated assistant said, “just keep cheating.”

Tampering officially arrived in college football this offseason, leaving coaches to both lament the current state of the game — and try to keep up.

Unempathetic and callous – The IPL Is mocking Indians right in their faces

Rishabh Pant, captain of the Delhi Capitals, reacts during an IPL match with the Royal Challengers Bangalore, Ahmedabad, April 27, 2021 | PTI/Sportzpics for IPL

By Parth Pandya

In the early hours of April 26, Ravichandran Ashwin, one of India’s leading cricketers, took to social media and confirmed he’s temporarily opting out of the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Ashwin’s withdrawal came hours after his team finished the Chennai leg of their schedule and was due to depart for their next one in Ahmedabad. Citing the worsening conditions in the country amidst the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ashwin has decided to extend support to his immediate and extended family during an unprecedented nationwide health crisis.