LOS ANGELES — Most people in the U.S. would assume that as the host of the upcoming 2028 Olympic games in Los Angeles, the U.S. government would be obligated to allow athletes from all countries to compete. But it has systematically denied visas to almost 100 Cuban athletes, coaches and sports officials since early 2025. This could prevent their participation in required qualifying events for the 2028 Olympic Games, excluding Cuba’s young athletes from the games.
To take steps to prevent this, more than 70 people, including leaders of Cuba solidarity organizations based in the U.S., Canada and a few other countries, joined a video meeting Nov. 23 to advance an international campaign to demand the U.S. government “Let Them Play” and grant visas to Cuban athletes. They also plan to urge the International Olympic Committee to push back against Washington’s refusal to hold an event open to all the world’s athletes. The LA US Hands Off Cuba Committee organized the meeting.
Yasser Ibarra, first secretary to the Cuban Embassy in Washington, told the meeting he appreciated the efforts of all those joining “to defend the right of Cuban athletes to compete, to grow, and to represent their country on equal terms.
“When a country denies an athlete the basic right to compete,” he said, “it is not only disrupting a sports calendar, it is damaging careers, individual efforts, collective dreams, and the possibility of representing an entire nation with dignity. These obstacles are part of a broader policy of pressure and hostility that also manifests itself in the field of sports — another expression of Washington’s pressure imposed on the Cuban people.”
“‘Let Them Play’ is not a slogan; it is a fundamental call for justice. We want our athletes to have access to qualifying competitions and, even if they secure their Olympic spots, we want to ensure they do not face new excuses or obstacles,” he said.
“That is why your support is so valuable — because organized solidarity makes a real difference. I invite you to join actively: to spread the campaign, to reach out to organizations, to engage with sports groups and political representatives in your countries, and to help ensure this issue does not fade into silence,” Ibarra told participants in the meeting.
The Hands Off Cuba Committee in Los Angeles and others participating on the call agreed to work together to win a wide number of groups to send messages to the State Department and to the members of the International Olympic Committee urging visas to Cuban athletes be granted. They also plan to win support from sports figures and others for this campaign.
Among those promoting the effort are Kevin Kucera, Los Angeles Area Director of District 190, International Association of Machinists; Michael Vera of the Inland Boatmen’s Union of the Pacific, Southern California region; Bob Schwartz of Global Health Partners; Medea Benjamin of Codepink; Tamara Hansen, coordinator of Vancouver Communities in Solidarity with Cuba; Carlos Lazo, organizer of Puentes de Amor/Bridges of Love; the National Network on Cuba; Danny Valdes, co-chair of Democratic Socialists of America Cuba Solidarity Working Group; and John Waller, former national coordinator of Pastors for Peace Caravans to Cuba.
“Anyone who believes all countries should get a fair shot at participating in these games should join this campaign to demand the Cubans not be excluded,” Norton Sandler, Socialist Workers Party candidate for governor of California, told the Militant after the meeting. “Washington’s decadeslong economic and political war against the people of Cuba is aimed at punishing them for having made a socialist revolution.”
To learn more or to join the effort visit LetCubaPlay.com or email letcubaplay@gmail.com.