“Let Cuba Play” Campaign Mobilizes Against U.S. Sanctions on Cuban Athletes
(FILE) The commercial and exhibition segment of Cuba’s 2nd International Sports Fair at Havana’s Sports City, provided a space to raise support for Cuban sports in line with the strategy for the current Olympic cycle. Photo: INDER.
November 25, 2025 Hour: 6:07 am
Havana reports over $15 million dollars in sports-related losses due to the U.S. blockade, including unpaid fees to international federations.
The international campaign “Let Cuba Play” (“Déjenlos Jugar”, in spanish) was launched on November 23rd to defend Cuban athletes’ right to compete on equal terms in the Olympic Games, following U.S. unilateral economic sanctions.
The initiative was unveiled during a virtual meeting on Sunday, with activists participating from the U.S., Latin America, Europe, Africa, and Canada.
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The United States has denied roughly 100 visas to Cuban athletes, coaches, and sports officials in 2025 alone, effectively blocking their participation in qualifying events for the 2028 Olympic Games, scheduled in Los Angeles from July 14 to 30.
“When a country denies an athlete the fundamental right to compete, it disrupts more than the sports calendar—it jeopardizes careers, individual effort, collective dreams, and the opportunity to represent an entire nation with dignity”, said the First Secretary of the Cuban Embassy in Washington, Yasser Ibarra.
Ibarra stressed that these visa restrictions are part of a broader U.S. policy of pressure and hostility toward Cuba, extending into the sports sector as another dimension of the unilateral blockade. “‘Let Cuba Play’ is not just a slogan—it is a call for justice,” he said.
The campaign is spearheaded by the Hands Off Cuba Committee in Los Angeles, which is urging actions such as sending letters to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and rallying support from sports figures, celebrities, and international organizations.
U.S. Blockade in Numbers
According to the Cuban National Institute of Sports, Physical Education, and Recreation (INDER, in Spanish), the blockade has caused over $15 million in losses over the past five years, peaking at $2 million between August 2021 and February 2022. Cuba has also been unable to pay $123,000 to 89 international federations, including the World Anti-Doping Agency, essential for Olympic participation.
“The blockade limits Cuban participation in international events, whether due to visa denials or the inability to pay membership fees because of banking restrictions”, INDER reported. The institute also highlighted that thousands of dollars in prize money for Cuban athletes and referees are being withheld because foreign banks refuse to process transactions with Cuba.
The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics will feature more than 35 sports, including new events such as Flag Football, Cricket, Lacrosse, and Squash, along with the return of baseball and softball.
Author: vmmh - LVM
Source: Agencies
