Cuba and Spain on Friday took new steps to strengthen sports ties, following a meeting in Havana between senior leaders from the sector in both countries.

The vice president of the National Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation (INDER), Omar Venegas, met with the head of the Spanish Olympic Committee (COE), Alejandro Blanco.

The spirit that prevailed at the meeting allows us to affirm that we are laying the foundations to strengthening our ties and take actions that will promote bilateral sports development,’ Venegas said.

The meeting, held at the COE headquarters, was also attended by the president of the Spanish Pelota Federation, Julian Garcia, and INDER International Relations Director Gisleidy Sosa.

The INDER vice president commented on the weight assigned to Cuba’s preparation for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, and the current and future steps in the field of Basque pelota.

Venegas pointed out that an upcoming meeting was agreed with the Superior Council of Sports (CSD) of Spain, in order to formalize cooperation agreements and other forms of rapprochement between the two countries’ sports institutions.

We assessed interesting projects to generate mutual benefits, he added.

He took the opportunity to convey warm greetings from the president of the Cuban Olympic Committee, Roberto León Richards, to the Spanish executives.

The INDER vice president is heading a Cuban that days ago pre-registered 138 athletes in 18 sports for the Paris-2024 Olympic Games, thus fulfilling one of the requirements for that international sports event, scheduled to begin on July 26.

In Paris, the procedure was made before the Organizing Committee for next summer’s event.

Cuba has accumulated more than 230 medals in Olympic Games, including 84 titles, and places in the 16th place by nations.