Cuban president sends off Olympic team

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President Raul Castro praised Cuba’s Olympic team earlier today during a ceremony in Havana’s Latin American Stadium, Reuters reports.

‘All of you know what the Cuban people expect of you, and you and we know that you are going to fully achieve it,’ Castro told team members.

But Cuba faces some challenges.

Cuba’s boxers, for example, won five gold medals during the 2004 Athens Games. None of those athletes will fight in Beijing come Aug 8. Three athletes defected, one was dropped after attempting to defect and the fifth retired.

The exodus leaves the Cuban team with no previous Olympic experience. ‘We have completely renovated the team,’ boxing coach Pedro Roque said. ‘We can’t talk at this moment about grand goals or compare them with the Athens team.’

Baseball remains a bright spot for Cuba. Its team is among the favorites to win a gold medal in Beijing. And its track and field team is anchored by Dayron Robles, who owns the world record in the 110-meter hurdles.

-- Greg Johnson