Professional boxer Yordenis Ugás has responded to statements made by wrestler Mijaín López on the official program Mesa Redonda, urging him to reconsider whether it's appropriate for an athlete to participate in such a media spectacle orchestrated by the regime.
During his appearance on Mesa Redonda, López was asked about the exclusion of Russia from the Olympics, a decision taken by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Mijaín López's Statement and Ugás's Reaction
"I don't think it should have happened because politics has nothing to do with sports. Sports are about uniting cultures and athletes, and fostering brotherhood," López remarked.
Ugás did not hesitate to react. Through his social media platforms, the boxer expressed his disagreement with the contradiction in López's words.
"If politics has nothing to do with sports... what are you doing on that program, which is political and spreads misinformation?" Ugás questioned.
He further reminded López that "most Cubans unjustly lack food, electricity, medicines, and cannot live with dignity. Also unjustly, thousands of Ukrainians—men, women, boys, and girls—have died because of Russia's invasion," Ugás added.
The words of Mijaín López and Ugás's reaction occur in a context where the politicization of sporting achievements in Cuba is a constant theme.
Athletes who choose to leave national delegations are labeled as "deserters" and face severe consequences, such as being barred from returning to the country for more than eight years.
This situation also highlights how official media in Cuba manipulate athletes' words to align with the regime's narrative.
In this instance, López never explicitly stated that Russia's absence from the Olympics was an "injustice." The term was used by the Mesa Redonda host to add weight to López's comments.
Mijaín López finds himself in the midst of controversy for his ongoing allegiance to the totalitarian regime. He has been appearing at official events since returning to the island after becoming a five-time Olympic champion.
One of the recent events included his tribute to Fidel Castro at La Piragua on the Malecón, where he declared, "I believe that with our presence here, we are reaffirming all the continuity he left in this homeland."
Despite his call for the depoliticization of sports, the reality is that López, who is also a deputy in the National Assembly of People's Power (ANPP), has been co-opted by the regime as a new symbol of "revolutionary sports."
His image is used by official propaganda, which employs his physical stature as a symbol of the regime's strength, while it violently represses those who dissent or demand rights and freedoms.
This situation underscores the ongoing tension between Cuban athletes who have achieved international success and the political use the regime makes of their figures to bolster its ideological narrative.
The Politicization of Sports in Cuba
This section addresses common questions and answers regarding the intricate relationship between sports and politics in Cuba, especially in light of the recent controversy involving Mijaín López and Yordenis Ugás.
Why did Yordenis Ugás criticize Mijaín López?
Yordenis Ugás criticized Mijaín López for participating in a political program, despite López's statement that politics and sports should not mix. Ugás pointed out the contradiction and highlighted the regime's manipulation of athletes for political purposes.
What was Mijaín López's stance on Russia's exclusion from the Olympics?
Mijaín López stated that politics should not interfere with sports and that sports should unite cultures and athletes. He did not explicitly call the exclusion of Russia an "injustice," a term used by the program's host.
How does the Cuban regime use athletes for political purposes?
The Cuban regime often uses successful athletes as symbols of its strength and ideology. Athletes who align with the regime are showcased in official propaganda, while those who dissent face severe repercussions, including being labeled as "deserters."