Cuba Aims for Top Three Finish in Santo Domingo Medals Table

Cuba intends to maintain its position among the top three regional powers at the Santo Domingo 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games, scheduled to take place from July 22 to August 8 of next year. This was confirmed by José Antonio Miranda, General Director of High Performance for Cuba's National Institute of Sports, Physical Education, and Recreation (INDER).

This will be the third time the Dominican Republic has hosted this sporting event, having previously done so in 1974 and 1986.

A Challenging Context

The official acknowledged that it will once again be a challenge for the Cuban sports movement to compete against nations with better infrastructure that are not subjected to "such a genocidal blockade." He added, "We feel the weight of that historic first place we always held; today we categorically recognize that this is impossible, but we will try to be among the top three countries in the medal standings. Surely, there will be a fierce struggle between Mexico, Colombia, and the host nation itself."

Current Qualifications and Key Sports

Miranda stated that Cuba currently has 175 athletes qualified for the Santo Domingo Games, a number expected to grow in the first few months of next year. "They belong to 13 sports. Before the end of 2025, Wrestling should be seeking its quotas in Panama, which we know is one of the important disciplines and one whose results largely determine our placement in the medal table."

Impact of the Athlete and Coach Exodus

The General Director of High Performance for INDER recognized that the exodus of both athletes and coaches not only weakens their forces but also helps other countries improve. "The emigration of athletes with leadership and experience has forced young athletes to adapt quickly to take on responsibilities in the multidisciplinary Games. This also happens with coaches who have taken the 'Cuban school' to other regions, which is demonstrated by the number of titles they have achieved in events of the cycle."