HAVANA, March 5 (NNN-ACN) — The president of the International Olympic Committee Tomas Bach presented Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel the IOC Gold Medal acknowledging his support of the world Olympic movement.
The Cuban presidency reported on Twitter about a meeting between Diaz-Canel and Bach, who is on a working visit to the island accompanied by other high-level world sports directives.
The Cuban head of state considered it a honor to have received the President of the International Olympic Committee and he reiterated Cuba’s commitment to the international Olympic movement; “Sports can build many bridges,” said Diaz-Canel.
Bach described as intense and perfect his visit to Cuba and thanked for the hospitality he has received. During his stay here, Bach exchanged with athletes and sports directives and he also attended a meeting of the Cuban Olympic Committee.
Bach, and the president of Panam Sports, Neven Illic, also officially opened a track donated by the continental sports organization at the Pan American Stadium in East Havana.
The visitors were pleased with the preparation, level and talent of the new generations of Cuban athletes, whom they urged to continue their efforts towards the Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
After cutting the ribbon that formalized the inauguration of the track, two-time Olympic champion Alberto Juantorena presented his friend Bach with a Team Cuba T-shirt and dedicated it to him.
Bach threw the discus, guided by the Cuban competitors, and then he attempted the javelin, after a demonstration by the first Latin American Olympic champion, former javelinist Maria Caridad Colon.
The delegation appreciated competitive modeling and practices in field and track of conventional and Paralympic athletes, while they shared, in the most frank Olympic spirit, with athletes and coaches.
Friday is the second and last day of the official visit of the IOC and Panam Sports leaders, who arrived in Havana on Thursday. — NNN-ACN
