Cuba Announces Bid for 2012 Olympics

The Miami Herald ^ | Fri, Jun. 06, 2003 | Associated Press

[yonif]

HAVANA - Havana formally entered its bid to host the 2012 Olympics after a special meeting Friday of the Cuban Olympic Committee.

Havana Mayor Juan Continou said Cuba's strong international sports program makes it worthy of hosting the showcase event. The last major sports event staged by Cuba was the 1991 Pan American Games.

In choosing an Olympics site, "athletic merits should be a priority, not the wealth of a country, nor sponsors, nor television," said Jose Ramon Fernandez, president of the Cuban Olympic Committee.

Cash-strapped communist Cuba traditionally has opposed the commercialization of sports.

Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque also was on hand to lend the national government's backing of Havana's bid.

Cuba would be a long shot in a strong field of bidders, including New York, Moscow, London and Paris. Havana also bid on the 2008 Olympics, which went to Beijing.

The deadline for bids is in July and the host will be selected in 2005.

[AnnaZ]

Hey, if the Olympics can take place in China, why not Cuba? All the worker's paradises should be rewarded. Next stop North Korea!

[dirtboy]

I guess Castro figures that if the International Olympic Committee would grant the games to one communist dictatorship, they'd do it a second time. But they'll need to add a few events if they hold it in Havana:

A swim across the Florida Straights

A 400 meter dash against police dogs

Castro ass-kissing

Marathon denials of human rights violations

And other exciting events!

[Allegra]

The "Commie-Quota" is already satisfied with Beijing in 2008.

[spectacularbid2003]

Castro is just tired of his athletes defecting every 2 years.

[Paleo Conservative]

Castro is just tired of his athletes defecting every 2 years.

The Summer Olympics are held every 4 years. I don't think Cuba fields a Winter Olympics team.

[ffusco]

The Red Decathalon!

[Right Wing Professor]

Don't forget the dissident shooting (pistol and rifle).

[andy58-in-nh]

Of course, they won't be able to enter a home swimming team-
their best swimmers are already in the US.

[Right Wing Professor]

ROFL!

[y2k_free_radical]

ROTFLMAO

[ricpic]

If Havana gets the olympics a world record will be broken for fastest morning race to the bathroom after a couple of those Cuban coffees.

[COBOL2Java]

Don't forget the dissident shooting (pistol and rifle).

LOL. Reminds me of that scene from "History of the World, Part I" with King Louis XVI (Mel Brooks) using peasants instead of clay pigeons for skeet shooting...

[freedumb2003]

>>Next stop North Korea!<<

Been done already: remember FIFA (soccer)?

[DeFault User]

I don't think Cuba fields a Winter Olympics team.

Hey, if Jamaica can send a bob sled team, why can't Cuba? How about a luge made from the hood of a '55 Chevy?

[AntiGuv]

Just as an FYI, the UK's top sports body thinks Paris is the frontrunner for 2012. So, it looks as if commies get the games three times in a row! ;)

[Bon mots]

Q: Why doesn't Cuba have a good Olympic swimming team?
A: Because any Cubans that can swim live in Florida.

[dirtboy]

I don't think Cuba fields a Winter Olympics team.

Hey, if the Jamaicans can field a bobsled team, I'm sure Castro could cobble together a curling team - he's got plenty of political prisoners breaking and moving rocks all day, a bit of practice on an ice rink and they're ready to go!

[RedBloodedAmerican]

They'll easily win the rafting and sailing competition.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

I'd like to see it in NY except that if pie face is still senator there at that time, she/it will certainly try to get some face time in the cameras.

"It's all about ME! I'm the Queen!"