Havana.- THE CONFIRMATION The purposes of the Cuban delegations and the announcement of their flag bearers for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games focused today on the topics addressed in the radio and television space Mesa Redonda.
Recognized figures such as the wrestler Mijaín López and the judoka Idalys Ortiz will carry the national flag during the opening of the contest under the five rings. The sprinter Omara Durand and the long jumper Robiel Yankiel Sol were chosen for that privilege in the event for athletes with disabilities.
When announcing the election, José Antonio Miranda, general director of High Performance at Inder, highlighted that these are four sports leaders on the Island, due to their prestige and consecration, examples inside and outside of competitive scenarios.
Minutes before, the manager ratified the goal of placing the country among the top 20 in the medal table of the Olympic event, which will be held in the French capital from July 26 to August 11.
In the case of the Paralympic competition, the objective set is for the Cuban representation to finish among the best 25, thanks to its performance between August 28 and September 8.
“We will go with small delegations, but with the objective of demonstrating high efficiency,” confirmed Miranda, after detailing aspects such as the preparation carried out so far and what is planned for the few weeks remaining before the beginning of the actions in the City of Light.
“In general, the planned critical path and the progress of preparation are evaluated well and the mood is very positive,” he explained.
He stated that so far there are 46 qualified in 14 sports for the first of these competitions, although the final number is expected to be around 60-61 exponents in 16 disciplines, some more than those registered in Tokyo 2020.
The classification process, considered the most complex faced for this type of competition, ends on June 30. After that date, places in sports that have not yet completed this process will be made official.
Miranda regretted the non-inclusion of a collective sport, among the goals proposed and not achieved by the men’s volleyball team, the one with the most possibilities to achieve it.
“We knew that it was a much more demanding classification process than the Olympic Games themselves and it was not possible,” he acknowledged.
The highest authority on high performance at Inder highlighted the work carried out in each sport so that they can reach the key days of their competitions in the best possible shape.
In that sense, he emphasized how difficult it has been to complete this extraordinary effort in the midst of the complex situation that the country is experiencing, aggravated by the effects of the intensified economic and financial blockade imposed by the United States Government.
“All qualifiers are guaranteed to complete the last stage of preparation in Europe and despite the economic difficulties, we have managed to participate in the events we needed,” he stated.
PARALYMPIC GAMES: ANOTHER GREAT CHALLENGE
“Cuba has 14 classified in six sports and those processes in para-athletics, para-weight, para-cycling and para-judo have yet to be completed,” said Jorge Reinaldo Palma, head of the Department of Sports for People with Disabilities at Inder, when referring to the state of preparation. heading to the Paralympic competition.
He set the final total of members of the delegation between 23 and 26 and assured that they have faced the most complex qualifying system in the history of these competitions.
«Very good preparation has been done, the state of health is good and nothing compromises participation. We can assure that the objectives have been met with significant rigor,” Palma confirmed.
In addition, the manager confirmed that Omara will be determined to retain her crowns in the three distances: 100, 200 and 400 meters in the T12 category. With the same willingness to shine, Robiel will take on her presentation in the long jump for T46 competitors.
