During the COC General Assembly recently held in Havana, an assessment was made of the steps taken and what still needs to be done towards the main goal of the island's representatives at the Olympic event: staying among the top 12 countries in the final medal standings.

COC President and also Vice President of the Cuban Council of Ministers, Jose Ramon Fernandez, said that all efforts and all available resources have been dedicated to this task.

He highlighted the close working relationship that exists between the COC and the Cuban Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation (INDER) to guarantee the optimum form of the 75 athletes that have already secured Olympic spots and also of those who will soon win their classification.

Other goals of the COC working plan for 2008, which was approved by the COC Executive Committee and the presidents of 39 of the 44 national sports federations, include participating in sports meetings and congresses and contributing to the organization of national and foreign competitions.

They also agreed to guarantee the attention to programs of Olympic Solidarity for athletes and coaches.

(www.cubanews.ain.cu)