In the midst of an energy crisis marked by daily blackouts across all provinces, Cuban Television will broadcast live matches of the Euro Cup and Copa América soccer tournaments, scheduled between the current month and next July.
On his Facebook profile, official journalist Pavel Otero shared the news: "Cuban Television will broadcast live all the Euro Cup soccer games starting this Friday, June 14, and also the Copa América games, starting on the 20th of this month."
Both competitions will conclude on Sunday, July 14, and less than two weeks later, the Paris 2024 Olympics will kick off, which, as usual, will also be broadcasted.
Undoubtedly, these are good news for sports fans in Cuba, although they will likely miss some goals or goalkeeper saves due to the lack of electric power, a recurring problem affecting the Cuban population for decades.
Currently, several areas endure power outages of up to 20 hours daily, making normal life impossible. The blackouts are primarily due to the lack of investment and maintenance in the country's electrical infrastructure, as well as the dependence on imported fuels to generate energy.
Moreover, President Miguel Díaz-Canel himself admitted in his new YouTube segment that there are no guarantees that the summer months will be free of disruptions in the electrical service.
Díaz-Canel reiterated what the Electric Union announced weeks ago, stating that the outages would increase due to the rise in maintenance work on thermal power plants, in an effort to ensure service in July and August.
"We will have extended maintenance until June to try to minimize the inconvenience of blackouts during the summer, especially in the months of July and August," noted the country's leader.
FAQs on Cuba's Energy Crisis and Sports Broadcasts
Below are some frequently asked questions and answers regarding the energy crisis in Cuba and the upcoming live broadcasts of the Euro Cup and Copa América.
Why is Cuba experiencing frequent blackouts?
Cuba is experiencing frequent blackouts primarily due to a lack of investment and maintenance in its electrical infrastructure and a dependency on imported fuels for energy generation.
Will Cuban Television broadcast all the matches of the Euro Cup and Copa América?
Yes, Cuban Television plans to broadcast all the matches of the Euro Cup starting June 14 and the Copa América starting June 20.
How long are the power outages in Cuba?
Some areas in Cuba endure power outages lasting up to 20 hours daily, severely impacting daily life.
What measures are being taken to address the power outages?
Extended maintenance on thermal power plants is being conducted until June to try to minimize the inconvenience of blackouts during the summer months, particularly in July and August.