Havana Hosts International Sports Fair

Havana’s “Ciudad Deportiva” sports complex is hosting the 2nd International Sports Fair, an event encouraging the development of Cuban sports through actions to promote local trade, investment opportunities and innovative solutions to current challenges facing the Cuban Sports system.

The fair was inaugurated on Monday by deputy Prime Minister Ines Maria Chapman, Sports Institute President Osvaldo Vento, and Provincial Communist Party first secretary Livan Izquierdo.

In his opening remarks of the event, Osvaldo Vento said that the fair not only prioritizes initiatives related to high-performance sports, but also to social welfare and the promotion of children sport practice.

Some 92 local and foreign entities from 11 countries, including Canada, México, Italia, China, Colombia, Panama, Guatemala, Spain and France are attending the fair, which runs till February 27th.

The executive expressed his interest in strengthening alliances with enterprises linked to the Cuba sports system, including 26 local private businesses participating at the fair.

Debates on technology applied to sports, sport tourism, nutrition, construction of facilities and sponsorship strategies are on the event’s agenda, as well as the presentation of training control systems, specialized software programs.

Sierra Leone is one of the countries with a presence at the event. That African nation’s sports minister Augusta James-Teima addressed participants at the inaugural ceremony to express that this is an opportunity to learn from the Cuban colleagues and share experiences that contribute to a solid base for the development of sports in Sierra Leone.

The African official is scheduled to sign a cooperation accord with the Cuban sports sector this month to enhance sports practice and improve infrastructure in her country.

Fair organizers say the event allows to consider investment and business opportunities to contribute to better sports results and inclusion.