UPDATE: This new policy doesn’t affect Cuban volleyball defectors. SAD!
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This is great news for Cuban athletes!
According to an article released by france24.com:
Most Cubans next week will have the right to travel without government permission for the first time in decades, but sports stars will still require permission to leave, an official said Tuesday.
“Professionals who are deemed essential, technicians, sports people, and (Communist Party) staff and leaders” have been informed that they still face curbs on foreign travel, said Lamberto Fraga, a high-ranking Migration and Foreign Nationals’ Ministry official, and they will need a special permit.
“This group of people will be told why they cannot leave the country, and they likely understand that they are essential, which should keep them from going to seek a passport, unless they have authorization” to travel abroad, Fraga said on state television.
Effective January 14th, 2013 Cubans will no longer need the reviled exit visas that have kept most in this country of 11 million from ever traveling abroad. “The visas, and invitation letters from a host, cost up to $200 in a country with an average monthly salary of less than $20.” according to our source.
One former Cuban player, Ramon Gato, posted this on his Facebook account:
Translation: “AND WE LOOK AWAY TO TELL THE FUTURE. THE FUTURE IS NOW. CUBANS WE ARE READY FOR GROWN WE FACE NEW CHALLENGES IN CONTINUATION. BUT TODAY WE HAVE WON THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE, BECAUSE AFTER 12 YEARS (Ramon Gato, Ihosvany hernandez, Leonel marshal, Angel Dennis and Yasser Romero mayeta) MAY FINALLY RETURN TO OUR COUNTRY AND FINALLY OUR MOTHERS, FATHERS, BROTHERS, SONS AND ALL RELATIVES… FINALLY … IT LOOKS LIKE A DREAM.”
We wonder how this new travel policy is going to affect Cuban athletes who have defected in previous years. Can they now come back without jeopardizing their freedom to leave the country once their visit is over?
Take note, the travel policy EXCLUDES sports stars who still need permission when they want to travel outside Cuba.
Thoughts?
(images: FIVB)