The Cuban delegation set to compete in the XXV Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo 2026 was ceremonially sent off this Saturday at the foot of the José Martí monument in Havana, with Miguel Díaz-Canel presiding over the event.
According to the state-run JIT Cuban Sports media, Díaz-Canel handed the national flag to two elite athletes: triple jump world champion Leyanis Pérez and Tokyo 2020 Olympic greco-roman wrestling champion Luis Alberto Orta.
Leyanis Pérez, who boasts world titles in both indoor and outdoor competitions, described the occasion as a one-of-a-kind experience: "It is a unique experience to carry my flag. This is my first time with such a responsibility, which fills me with pride and further commitment. Yes, in Santo Domingo, I will compete with the same passion and drive as I do in the Diamond League, a World Championship, or the Olympic Games."
During the same event, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz awarded the five-time Olympic wrestling champion Mijain López Núñez the title of "Country Brand Ambassador," making him the first Cuban to receive this honor. "I will carry this task with the same integrity, strength, and love for Cuba that I put into every competition. It's an honor I accept, as always, on behalf of my people," López Núñez remarked.
The regime has named the delegation "Fidel's Centennial," referencing Fidel Castro's 100th birth anniversary, set for August 13. Meyvis Estévez, the general secretary of the Union of Young Communists, praised the athletes as "the delegation of the 60th anniversary of the glorious Cerro Pelado feat," referring to the 1966 San Juan Games.
However, the official rhetoric clashes with an unsettling reality that the regime prefers to overlook: the pressing question surrounding this delegation is not how many medals they will win, but how many of its members will return to Cuba.
Cuba has registered 504 athletes across 42 sports for Santo Domingo 2026, marking the largest delegation in its recent history at these games, with the stated goal of finishing among the top three in the medal tally and securing approximately 68 golds.
Yet, the delegation is already diminished before departure. On Thursday and Friday, nine of the twelve members of the Cuban canoeing team defected in Montreal, Canada, during the III World Cup and Pan American Canoe Sprint Championship, marking the largest defection in that sport within Cuban athletics. Four of these athletes were set to compete in Santo Domingo.
This pattern is systematic and repeats itself at every international event. During the Central American Games in San Salvador 2023, five field hockey players deserted the Cuban delegation during the competition. At the Pan American Games in Santiago 2023, 21 delegation members did not return on the final day.
Since 2022, over 100 Cuban athletes per year have left delegations or broken contracts abroad. In the past decade, more than 1,000 athletes have chosen not to return to the island.
The Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo 2026 will take place from July 24 to August 8, and Cuba aims to repeat or improve upon the third-place finish it achieved in San Salvador 2023, where it amassed 74 golds, 59 silvers, and 63 bronzes. History, however, suggests that the medal tally will not be the only count that matters at the event's conclusion.
Cuban Athlete Defections: Key Questions Answered
How many athletes did Cuba register for the Santo Domingo 2026 Games?
Cuba registered 504 athletes across 42 sports, marking its largest delegation in recent history for these games.
Why is the Cuban delegation already diminished before the games?
Nine members of the Cuban canoeing team defected in Montreal, Canada, during a championship event, reducing the delegation's size before the Santo Domingo Games.
What is the goal for the Cuban team at the Santo Domingo 2026 Games?
The Cuban team aims to finish among the top three in the medal standings and secure approximately 68 gold medals.