Seven Cuban athletes to seek refuge or asylum in Chile
SANTIAGO, Chile, (AFP) — Seven Cuban athletes will ask for asylum or refuge in Chile after they decided to stay in the country following the Pan American Games in Santiago, their lawyer told AFP on Tuesday.
“There are seven athletes — six women and one man — who are going to ask for refuge or asylum and that is something we are going to determine in the course of today,” lawyer Mijail Bonito said.
Chilean media reported that six of the athletes are field hockey players, and the seventh is a hurdler who won bronze medals in the games, which closed on Sunday.
“Their primary intention is to stay in Chile,” said Bonito.
The athletes’ visas allow them to stay in the South American nation until November 12.
Cuba is experiencing its worst economic crisis in decades, which has spurred a massive exodus in the past two years, largely of young people.
Official figures show that since 2022, 187 athletes — including boxing star Andy Cruz — have emigrated.
