Cuban women’s volleyball team denied U.S. visa to compete in Puerto Rico
HAVANA – The Cuban Volleyball National Volleyball team was denied the chance to play in a tournament in Puerto Rico following the new visa restrictions imposed by US President Donald Trump.
The Cuban Volleyball Federation said last week that the team, including 12 athletes, a referee and several coaches, had refused their visa request and would not be able to attend the tournament later this month.
“The disappointment is enormous because I train every day, every hour of training leads to this and I devote myself to this,” said Laura Suarez, player of the national team, to the Associated Press. “It’s really disappointing not being able to participate in the competition, which for which I am preparing.
Cuba had to play in the final tournament Four de Norceca in Manatí, Puerto Rico. The tournament includes Puerto Rico, Mexico and Costa Rica and it attributes classification points to the qualification for the volleyball league.
“We were focused on competition because that’s it,” said Dayana Martínez, another player. “Arriving at the embassy and being refused the visa assigns us a lot because this competition gives us points to improve our ranking”.
The coach of the Cuban team, Wilfredo Robinson, said that the decision means that his team is likely to miss the League of Nations.
“The competition grants points for each match and at the end, everything adds up,” said Robinson. “In September, we have another tournament and if we manage to reach 80 or 100 points, we will not be able to do it.”
The United States added Cuba to a list of 12 countries with restrictions on the United States or its territories from early June. It includes nationals of Afghanistan, the Republic of Congo, Iran, Venezuela and other nations.
“The refusal of the visas is part of a racist and xenophobic list of visa restrictions,” wrote Cuban Foreign Affairs Minister Bruno Rodriguez, on his X account.
In a message sent to the Associated Press, the United States Embassy in Cuba said that, according to its privacy policies, it could not comment on specific cases, but that the guidelines were implemented to guarantee borders and protect American communities and citizens.
The Cuban national women’s team won consecutive world championships in 1994 and 1998. He also won three Olympic gold medals in a row in Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000.
American measures are likely to have an impact on many more Cuban athletes who depend on international competitions, including some on American soil to qualify for the major championships and the next Olympic Games planned in Los Angeles in 2028.
