Girls from the Cuban children's softball team who were unable to travel to Puerto Rico. Photo: X/@DiazCanel.
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel criticized US policy toward Cuba after the US forbade a group of Cuban girls from playing in the Little League Softball World Series qualifying tournament, which will be held in Puerto Rico this week.
“How do you explain to nine- and ten-year-old girls from La Palma, Pinar del Río, that after so much effort, the petty politics of the US robbed them of their dream of playing in the Little League World Series in Puerto Rico? It’s not just a blow to the sport, it is robbing them of their dreams,” wrote Díaz-Canel, who was recently sanctioned by Washington, in a recent statement.
¿Cómo explicarles a niñas de 9 y 10 años de La Palma, Pinar del Río, que, tras tanto esfuerzo, la política mezquina de EEUU les arrebató el sueño de jugar en la Serie Mundial de Pequeñas Ligas en Puerto Rico?
No es solo un golpe al deporte, es robarles la ilusión. pic.twitter.com/qfAbUC7gJX
— Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez (@DiazCanelB) July 14, 2025
The Cuban Baseball and Softball Federation (FCBS) reported in a statement released Sunday by the Cuban press that the girls were unable to travel to Puerto Rico because US authorities, although they approved visas for the 14 players, denied permission to the seven members of the coaching staff, that is, the “adults in charge of conducting the competitive process and ensuring the integrity of the girls who won their right to participate” in the competition that started July 14 and ends July 18.
In this regard, the FCBS reported that the Cuban national team had to abandon the flight to Puerto Rico departing Sunday, July 13, at 8:20 a.m., because they had been waiting until the last minute for the Trump administration to grant them travel permission to compete.
The federation added that the Cuban team completed the visa process within the timeframe established by the US Embassy, after attending an appointment June 23, where all participants underwent the “requisite interview.”
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For this reason, they believe the US is acting contrary to “the inherent commitments” that come with the “responsibility” of countries that host international sporting events and, furthermore, is acting with “the cruelty of undermining the expectations of minors who worked very hard to take on this challenge.”
“Once again, the US is violating the precepts of sport and taking an unfair and discriminatory stance, adding to what has already happened so far this year against Cuban delegations from other disciplines,” the federation added, also warning of the growing uncertainty among Cuban athletes and coaches regarding whether they will be allowed to compete in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
(RT)
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
OT/JRE/SL
