State, revolution and the organization of sports competitions in Cuba (1960-1979)

Abstract

This article analyzes the organization of sports competitions in Cuba between the 1960s and 1970s. Based on research conducted with the Cuban press (particularly the sports press) and the intelligence documents of the US government, we focus on the Cuban state's operations regarding the organization of sports competitions. Through this article, we seek to shed light on some of the major sports competitions promoted by the Cuban government during the two decades following the revolution, uncovering the initiatives and partnerships between government institutions, unions, and mass organizations, as well as examining the official rhetoric propagated to the domestic public regarding these sporting events. Throughout the chronological framework of the research, the organization of sports activities was subordinated to the pursuit of increasing the number of competitors and sports enthusiasts, the discovery of talents who could represent Cuba in international competitions, and, finally, the dissemination of ideology within the country.