Cuba to host Havana Skate Marathon

The Havana Skate Marathon, whose competitions will be held this weekend on the Malecon of the Cuban capital, opens a new horizon of great events with the nation's protagonism, in an Olympic sport in full swing.

Agustin Abril, programming director of the National Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation, highlighted Friday at a press conference the novelty of the marathon event, the international support and the boost to the practice of skating among young people.

Italian Sabatino Aracu, president of World Skate (governing federation of this sport), pointed out Cuba's strength as an athletic power and its organizational capacity.

The tournament committee confirmed more than 250 competitors, coming from eight Cuban provinces and countries like Ecuador and Colombia, the latter dominating skating in the world.

Four world champions will prestige a competition with speed trials in 100 meters, marathon, freestyle (jump and slalom) and skate cross for women and men from 9 years old to over 60 years old and in distances of up to 42 kilometers (km), in a seven-kilometer circuit in Havana's Malecon.

World Skate plans to hold top-level competitions, such as World Cups, in the near future in Havana, as well as other competitions in the rest of the country.