Cuba's athletes keep defecting, despite a new era in US-Cuba relations

[uhnope]

Source: NPR

Just in the past few weeks, several Cuban athletes have left their teams in the middle of competitions. Two baseball players and four rowers who were part of the Cuban delegation to the Pan American Games in Canada bolted.

And here in the US, Cuba’s national soccer team started losing members almost as soon as it arrived to take part in the Gold Cup tournament.

The team started with 23 players. They finished with 19 — one more than the minimum allowed by tournament rules — after four players defected one by one.

The unscheduled departures put added pressure on the team, as it struggled in early action. Cuba lost 6-0 to Mexico, followed by a 2-0 loss to Trinidad.

Read more: http://capeandislands.org/post/cubas-athletes-keep-defecting-despite-new-era-us-cuba-relations

[Warpy]

1. Follow the money

They get a lot more of it here and in Canada.

[former9thward]

8. As they should.

The whole island would defect if they could.

[Warpy]

10. Consider that most of the team did not defect

and ask yourself why that would be.

Money isn't everything.

[former9thward]

11. There are guards on the team.

Sometimes they screw up. Others may have family considerations and these two don't. Could be one of a hundred reasons. No one should be sentenced to poverty -- which is the whole island of Cuba.

[Warpy]

12. And which might not be the case had they not been embargoed for decades.

The only way for a "guard" to prevent someone who really wants to defect from doing so is by shooting him.

Again, the majority didn't defect. Perhaps they see some of the benefits of their system that you are missing. Perhaps they just want to be home.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

13. I stayed at a hotel in Australia in the 80's where some sort of Soviet delegation was also staying

There was security everywhere. There were always two really scary dudes sitting in the elevator lobby 24/7 and they were presumably posted or patrolling elsewhere too. I'm pretty sure these neanderthals didn't have guns but I suspect they were otherwise very persuasive.

My dad decided one night to prod them a little, he had some fun since they were insisting they were merely translators who spent all day every day sitting there just in-case one of the Soviet guests needed to request toilet paper from the front desk.

[former9thward]

14. They have not been embargoed.

Every other country in the world trades with them and visits them and have for decades. The U.S. does not stop any economic development on the island. When I was there in 1995 Spanish, French and British were building and operating hotels there. Beaches were full of Europeans and Canadians. The Castro brothers want the U.S. embargo to continue because that is the last excuse they have. As far as the team goes you are right. There could be a hundred reasons why the 2 defected and a hundred why the others did not.

[Agnosticsherbet]

2. A change in our relationship to the Cuban government does not change the realtionship between

the Cuban government and its citizens.

[7962]

4. Perfectly stated. nt

[craigmatic]

3. Does this ever happen to North Korea or are people too worried about family reprisals by the Kims?

[christx30]

6. There have been a few escapes.

If they are lucky enought to make it to South Korea, they might have a chance at life. If they make it into China and are caught, they are either sent back, or they are held and work the rest of their lives as slaves.

[FLSurfer]

5. With improved relations, the favorable status given to

Cuban refugees may change. If one plans on immigrating, it is probably a good time.

[YOHABLO]

7. Well of course it's the money. It's all bling bling and big mansions for players in the U.S.

[former9thward]

9. Its called freedom.

The same thing you enjoy...

[YOHABLO]

16. No it's supply and demand. It's America's insanely wrong priorities and values.

[former9thward]

17. I'm sure Cuba will have you if you feel their system is so great.

[Sunlei]

15. Cubans can get "legal permanent resident" in USA by touching dry land

One who makes it to shore ("dry feet&quot gets a chance to remain in the United States, and later would qualify for expedited "legal permanent resident" status and eventually U.S. citizenship.

Cubans found at sea used to get to stay here too but some deal was made with Cuban gov by Clinton? to send the people found at sea back to their doom


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wet_feet,_dry_feet_policy