The Panel “Transforming the future: Women and Girls of Latin America and the Caribbean”, held within the framework of the week of the region at UNESCO, offered an important space to present on the development of sport in Cuba, in particular on the active participation of women and people with disabilities.
In this scenario, an emotional message sent by the multiple Cuban Paralympic champion Omara Durand Elías was projected, in which she highlighted the crucial role of sport in promoting fundamental values for the construction of a more inclusive and equitable society. “By providing sports opportunities to people of all genders and abilities, we are not only promoting health and well-being, but also building a world where each person has the opportunity to reach their maximum potential,” said the young athlete from the Island.
Likewise, Omara said that in Cuba gender equality and the inclusion of people with disabilities in the sports field were essential principles of the Revolution. “The country has made significant efforts to ensure that all people, regardless of gender or ability, have equal access and can fully participate in the world of sport,” he said, highlighting the role of progressive policies and innovative programs promoted by the Cuban government. “I can proudly say that I am the result of these programs and the will of my country to create spaces for everyone.”
For her part, when introducing Omara's video, the Cuban Ambassador to UNESCO María del Carmen Herrera Caseiro expressed that Omara was an example of what can be achieved when talent and individual effort are combined with national-level policies to promote equality and inclusion.
At the same time, the Cuban diplomat evoked the slogan of the Cuban Revolution of the “sport is a right of the people”, under which sports practice was universalized in Cuba, without distinction. She highlighted the country's results in various disciplines, particularly the achievements of women and athletes with disabilities, and referred to the cooperation provided by Cuba in sport training to developing countries.
In this context, the representative of Cuba praised the enormous efforts of her government for the development of sports in the country, in the face of the difficulties and obstacles derived from the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States against Cuba for more than 60 years.