Dublin, December 14, 2022. The headquarters of the Irish Chancellery witnessed today the signing of a bilateral Memorandum of cooperation in the field of Physical Education and Sport between Ireland and Cuba. The signing is an expression of the purpose of both parties to promote bilateral relations in this area, between their counterpart sports organizations.
The Memorandum was agreed between the National Institute for Sport, Physical Education and Recreation (INDER) and the Irish Department (Ministry) of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaelic, Sport and Media. The ceremony was chaired by the director for Latin America and the Caribbean of the Foreign Ministry, Ciara O'Floinn, and had the virtual participation of the Irish ambassador to Cuba, Maeve von Heynitz, based in Mexico. The Cuban ambassador, Bernardo Guanche Hernández, proceeded to sign it, on behalf of the President of INDER, Osvaldo Vento Montiller and the Vice Minister of Tourism and Sports, Cian Ó Lionáin, by the Minister of State for Sports of Ireland, Jack Chambers.
The Cuban diplomat described the agreement as an important contribution to the historic and excellent bilateral relations between Cuba and Ireland. He also thanked the joint effort made by the sports institutions of both countries and their respective foreign ministries.
The Memorandum includes, among other cooperation actions, the participation of athletes and coaches in competitions, tournaments, training sessions, courses, events organized by the sports federations of Cuba and Ireland and the preparation for the next Olympic Games in 2024.
Likewise, he recalled the words of the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, during the visit of the Cuban President, Miguel Díaz- Canel, in October 2019, when on that occasion highlighted the importance of the connection between both nations as a way to build a better future.
Referring to other spheres in charge of this Irish ministry, the ambassador will probably explore the possibility of further cooperation in the spheres of art and culture. As an example, he pointed out that Cuba would deepen its culture by reading more Irish writers, such as Oscar Wilde, while the Irish would enjoy reading what José Marti wrote, in his chronicle about this writer, published by the Buenos Aires newspaper, “La Nación”, on the 10th of December 1882.