Third ALBA Games Wrap Up in Havana

HAVANA, Cuba, April 28 (acn) Friendship and integration, rivalry and healthy sportsmanship characterized the closing ceremony of the Third ALBA Games and its 12 days of arduous competition. The festivity had plenty of good music, juggling, dance and gymnastics, reports Granma newspaper.

In a brief speech, Christian Jimenez, President of Cuba’s National Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation (INDER), declared the games officially closed and invited all the countries present to participate in the fourth games, to take place in Venezula in 2011.

A few minutes before, the most outstanding athletes of the event were given special awards. Andreina Pinto (VEN-swimming), seven gold medals and one silver medal, was selected as the best female athlete, while the best male athlete was Guillermo Aguiar (CHI-archery), with five gold medals and one bronze.

The best Cuban athlete was Juan Carlos Stevens (archery), with four gold medals, two silvers and one bronze.

Esteban Lazo Hernández, member of the Party’s Politburo and Vice President of the Council of State, gave the head of the Cuban delegation, Servando Roig, the trophy for Cuba as the champion of the Third ALBA Games, with a total of 525 medals (255-153-117).

Victoria Mata, Venezuelan Minister of Sports, received the second prize representing her country, which finished second with 387 medals (98-138- 151). Giving the prize was José Ramón Fernández, President of Cuba’s Olympic Committee and Vice President of the Council of Ministers.

With an explosion of joy, Chileans, who finished third with 96 medals (32-29-35), received the prize from hands of Lázara Mercedes López, member of the Secretariat of the Party’s Central Committee. Receiving the trophy was Gabriel Gaspar Tapia, Chilean ambassador to Cuba.

The well known Adalberto Álvarez y su Son salsa band played at the end of the closing ceremony of this important Latin American and Caribbean sports event.

Presiding over the ceremony was Pedro Sáez Montejo, member of the Party’s Politburo, and other political leaders.

(Clausurados Juegos Deportivos del ALBA
Venezuela 2011, la próxima cita)