10 Cuban athletes What They asked for asylum in Chile. They showed up this Friday to train in the municipal gym of the Chilean capital. Their requests were received by the government of Chile and they got one eight month visa until their procedures are resolved.
Of these 10 athletes, seven competed. 2023 edition Pan American Games.
A dozen Cuban athletes are represented by the same law firm, Hurtado and Bonito, two groups who decided not to return to the island at different times but who have a connection.
The latest to leave the sports village on their own after closing last Sunday Games Pan-Americanheld in the capital of the southern country, six players belonging field hockey teamStars: Junia Milanes, Jennifer Martinez, Yakira Guillen, Lismari Gonzalez, Helek Carta and Geidy Morales, as well as bronze medalist in the 400m hurdlesYoao Illas.
Preconceived plan a few months ago
Junia MilanesThe 28-year-old captain of the hockey team followed in her boyfriend’s footsteps. Lazarus Toulon, who was already in Chile five months after separate from the Cuban delegation men’s hockey Players Jordankis Mendes and Yurisan Socarras remained with Tolon.
Lazaro Tolon, glad to attend Chiletold the media:
This is a super complex solution. I can say that the main reason we made this decision was to feel free in all aspects.
The player admitted that They supported their colleagues who decided not to return to the island after Games Pan-American.
Advocate Michael Bonito reported that the athletes received everything temporary visas it would even allow them to work while the refugee application process continues. “Institutionality worked accordingly,” he said.
Five athletes of the group live in a house, the other five live in a hotel. Everyone is waiting for those the opportunities they came to seek materialize.
The lawyer statedor:
We hope that the expressions of solidarity they receive will become concrete proposals that will allow them to return to the development of their sporting activities and contribute to the development of this country.
The danger of political instrumentalization
Lismari Gonzalezone of the players hockeywho has 23 years oldsummarizes the motives that caused her to not return home and stop seeing her family, like the others, for a time currently undetermined.
I decided to make this decision because in Chile individuality is respected and in sports life there are many opportunities for development, you can develop. Doors can open for me in my personal and professional life. We would like to live in a club so we can have our doors open so we can do what we love and get a degree in physical education.
This Friday they received an invitation from the Conservative mayor Christopher Lyrafrom the commune Lo Barnecheaone of the sectors with the highest economic level in Chilean capital. Despite the fact that he was accused of politicize the problemasserts that he only intends to integrate them into promote sports in this privileged area.
We may well welcome them here and conduct sports master classes as soon as they solve their immigration problem. I am sure that the youth of Lo Barnechea will be very enthusiastic about sports.
This morning we received at the city gymnasium #LoBarnechea Cuban athletes who asked for asylum in Chile so that they could conduct their first training in our country. This invitation comes out of empathy, born of knowing their history and offering our help. pic.twitter.com/jPKoz0CLuG
— Cristobal Lira (@CristobalLira) November 10, 2023
The number could be higher
flight of Cuban athletes when they go to compete on international tours, this is nothing new. “This fashion theme in Cuban sports– Tolon admitted. Unofficial data suggests over 100 island athletes which is what they have been doing since last year.
Reports from various local and international media indicate that the number of Cuban athletes remaining in Chile There would be more, but it was not formalized.
This group will include a rower who left his team after the qualifying tournament for Games Pan-American which ended on April 19, and a basketball player who traveled with the delegation and did not compete in Santiago 2023.
(WITH information from EFE)
Source: Aristegui Noticias
I’m George Gonzalez, a professional journalist and author at The Nation View. With more than 5 years of experience in the field, I specialize in covering sports news for various print media outlets. My passion for writing has enabled me to craft stories that capture the attention of readers all over the world.
