CubaMinrex. Sitio del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Cuba

Fidel Castro Sends Message of Encouragement to Cuban Athletes

Cuba, August 5, 2008. Fidel Castro, the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, sent a message of encouragement and support to the island’s 165 athletes participating in the Beijing Olympic Games.

Jose Ramon Fernandez, president of the Cuban Olympic Committee, passed on the message at a meeting with members of the Cuban delegation immediately after arriving in the Chinese capital on Wednesday.

Before their departure from Havana for Beijing, in the early morning hours of July 26, Castro made sure that a personal card reached every athlete with the message “Never forget that in your heart, you carry the honor of your people.”

The dedication reads “to the hard-working athletes of the Cuban Olympic delegation”, encourages them to focus and “to do what they know the best”, to compete bravely and with dignity, “the Cuban athlete slogan must be like the ancient Spartan's : with the shield or upon the shield” concludes the appeal.

Fernandez also referred to the importance of psychological training for the contest, and the need for the athletes to focus on bringing home the medals that the Cuban people are expecting.

On Wednesday afternoon, a flag-raising ceremony will take place at the Olympic Villa attended by the Cuban athletes, delegation heads, diplomats and Chinese officials. (Cubaminrex - ACN)

<< Back