The Cuban Federation of Athletics expressed its frustration on Friday after the U.S. Embassy in Cuba rejected visa applications for part of the delegation scheduled to attend the 2025 World Masters Indoor Athletics Championship. According to a statement released on the Jit website, the visa denial prevented nearly all Cuban athletes from participating in the event held between March 23 and 30 in Gainesville, Florida.
This competition was intended for retired athletes aged 35 to 89. The Cuban team reportedly consisted of 16 individuals, including 12 athletes, a delegate, and a journalist, although specific details were not provided. An announcement from INDER highlighted that the group included two U.S. residents.
After acquiring passports for those who needed visas, the delegation attended interviews on February 25. U.S. authorities subsequently denied visas to four applicants. Following the event's conclusion on March 31, the Embassy returned the remaining passports, also without visas. As a result, only the two U.S. residents were able to compete in the championship.
In February, the U.S. government halted visa issuance for dozens of Cuban regime officials and suspended several visa categories. Numerous passports were returned without visas, and certain visa categories typically used by state officials and their affiliates were suspended.
Cuban representatives from various sectors, such as culture, health, education, science, and sports, commonly travel abroad with official passports managed by their respective organizations, along with the necessary visas. Among those affected was the Cuban basketball team, which did not receive visas to travel to Puerto Rico for their final Group D match in the FIBA AmeriCup 2025 qualifiers. Only two Cuban players possessed visas to enter Puerto Rico, preventing them from playing the game.
Visa Denial Impact on Cuban Athletes
Why were Cuban athletes denied visas to the U.S.?
The U.S. embassy in Cuba refused visas to the majority of the Cuban delegation due to tightened visa regulations affecting officials of the Cuban regime and their affiliates.
How many Cuban athletes were able to compete in the World Masters Indoor Athletics Championship?
Only two athletes, who were residents of the United States, managed to participate in the competition.
What were the consequences for the Cuban basketball team?
The Cuban basketball team could not participate in their scheduled match in Puerto Rico because only two players had received visas to enter the country.