The aforementioned team was publicly presented as a group of young athletes ‘uprooted by war or persecution,’ something that does not apply to any of the Cubans who are part of it, the statement pointed out.

The text explains that the decision to include them was made behind the COC’s back and with the clear objective of attacking the image of the national sports movement, which has given so much glory to our people.

Since the news was made public, Cuban officials, in a serious and respectful manner, have been in communication with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), so that this unfortunate situation would be clarified, without positive results.

The statement makes it clear that the COC supports the idea with which the Refugee Team was originally conceived and that it has nothing against Cuban athletes and coaches who live or develop their careers in other countries.

Although the IOC directors assured that the athletes included in that team would not make extra-sports statements, one of the Cuban athletes, a Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion, made disrespectful and fallacious political statements against his country, his people and the sports movement that allowed him to win the title in that summer event.

The text states that it is a violation of the Olympic Charter and the rules established by the IOC for all athletes who participate in the Olympic Games.

In view of this situation, and taking into account that the IOC has not made a statement in this regard, the COC declared that it is obliged to publicly report this situation and demand the immediate expulsion of the said athlete from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, according to the rules that govern the International Olympic Movement.

“The Cuban Sports Movement demands the IOC to fulfill its responsibilities to enforce the principles of Olympism,” the COC statements stresses.

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