Cuba Honors 45th INDER Anniversary

Photo: José Tito Meriño

Havana, Feb 23 (Prensa Latina) The Cuban Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation (INDER) celebrated its 45th anniversary as main promoter of sports, whose practice is a right for all Cubans.

Council of State Vice Minister and Cuban Olympic Committee President Jose Ramon Fernandez made an address on Thursday to extol sports achievements since the Revolution´s triumph in 1959.

Those results were achieved "despite many aggressions and the over 45-year rigid blockade preventing us from buying the materials and instruments our athletes need to train," asserted Fernandez.

He criticized the US for denying visas to Cubans to participate in international events, its attempts to steal athletes, and "the policy of hostility" Washington applies on Havana in all sectors.

The COC leader recalled that INDER was founded to develop sports as a true right of the people, free and for all citizens irrespective of their age, sex or religion.

Fernandez also referred to the 52 gold medals, 45 silver and 41 bronze (138 medals) Cuba has won between the Rome 1960 Olympics and Athens 2004, the world´s largest number of medals per inhabitant.

"Only a socialist revolution led by President Fidel Castro can attain and put in practice a sports movement like that of Cuba," he maintained.

Communist Party Political Board member Esteban Lazo, INDER President Cristian Jimenez, outstanding athletes, and baseball players currently in tryouts for the World Baseball Classic attended the activity to celebrate the historic date.