This Wednesday, a fresh wave of Cuban athletes, coaches, medical personnel, and officials touched down in Santo Domingo, bolstering the island nation's delegation for the 25th Central American and Caribbean Games, according to the state-run outlet JIT.
Leading the group was Osvaldo Vento Montiller, the head of the National Institute of Sports, Physical Education, and Recreation (INDER). They were welcomed at Las Américas International Airport by the Cuban ambassador to the Dominican Republic, Ángel Arzuaga Reyes.
Among the athletes arriving on this flight were participants in cycling, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline gymnastics, and field hockey, accompanied by coaches from various sports and specialists from the Institute of Sports Medicine.
Earlier, on Tuesday, the archery, badminton, and tennis teams had already arrived, while other squads—judo, shooting, triathlon, rowing, and weightlifting—have been training on Dominican soil for several days.
A third group is expected to arrive early Thursday, including judokas, indoor and beach volleyball players, taekwondo athletes, chess players, softball players, and sailors.
Overall, Cuba has entered 504 competitors across 42 sports, planning to participate in 356 of the 497 events scheduled, making it one of the largest delegations at the games.
Vento Montiller has set the goal of maintaining a top-three position in the overall medal tally, a spot Cuba held in San Salvador 2023, where they secured 74 golds, 59 silvers, and 63 bronzes.
"We have clear objectives, including staying in the top three of the medal standings by country, and we're proud to have many motivations to achieve this," stated the INDER president at the airport.
However, the Cuban team's participation comes with a significant setback: nine out of the 12 members of the canoe team defected during a training camp in Montreal, Canada, from July 15 to 18, leaving Cuba practically without representation in this sport.
The regime's official narrative frames the delegation's efforts within the centenary of Fidel Castro's birth, attributing training difficulties to the U.S. embargo. Vento quoted Díaz-Canel, highlighting that athletes "have trained amid blackouts and shortages," though the energy crisis and scarcity plaguing Cuba result directly from decades under the communist system.
The official flag bearer for the Cuban delegation is Leyanis Pérez, a triple jump world champion thrice over, chosen in a ceremony on July 18.
The opening ceremony of the Games is set for Friday at the Félix Sánchez Olympic Stadium, although competitions kicked off on July 20 with water polo, where Cuba's men's and women's teams have already claimed victories against Guatemala and Venezuela, respectively.
Key Details About Cuba's Participation in the 2026 Santo Domingo Games
Who is leading the Cuban delegation?
Osvaldo Vento Montiller, the president of INDER, is leading the Cuban delegation for the 2026 Santo Domingo Games.
What significant challenge does the Cuban team face?
The Cuban team faces a significant challenge as nine members of their canoe team defected during a training camp in Canada, leaving them without practical representation in that sport.
How many Cuban athletes are participating in the Games?
Cuba has entered 504 athletes in 42 sports, with plans to compete in 356 of the 497 scheduled events at the Games.