| Laos, a predominantly Buddhist country, | | | | Korea, Guyana, Spain and Nicaragua. For |
| has been a new Socialist Republic since | | | | example between 1961 and 1971, the |
| 1975. Laos, best known as Lao People`s | | | | People`s Republic of Bulgaria sent 400 |
| Democratic Republic, is a country of | | | | athletes to La Havana. |
| ancient culture, history, traditions and | | | | Every year, Cuban delegations went to |
| beautiful historic buildings. Its | | | | East Europe to compete in international |
| fertile fields and tropical forest cover | | | | tournaments and competitions, for |
| an area bigger than Utah and Florida. | | | | example "Friendly Katowice" (basketball |
| But the sport has not grown in | | | | Poland), "Bratislava Cup" (volleyball |
| popularity.Certainly, the olympic sport | | | | Czechoslovakia), "Tungsram Cup" |
| in Laos is a chaos. There are not | | | | (waterpolo/Hungary), "Chemistry Cup" |
| stadiums, sportswomen, pool swimming and | | | | (boxing/ GDR), "Pravda Bratislava" |
| sporting projects. | | | | (track and field/Czechoslovakia), |
| In 1980 Thipsamay Chantaphone had | | | | "Olympic Day" (track and field/GDR), |
| finished lost in the 20-kilometer at the | | | | "Savaria Cup" (volleyball/ Hungary). |
| Moscow Olympic Games. For the first | | | | Furthermore,La Havana was host to |
| time, Laos sent an olympic team to | | | | several olympic tournaments: Pan |
| compete in the Summer Olympic Games. | | | | American Games (1991), Central American |
| Different from Alberto Juantorena (track | | | | and Caribbean Games (1982) Women`s |
| and field: 400 and 800 mts), Maria | | | | Basketball Preolympic and the 26th World |
| Caridad Colon Ruenes (track and | | | | Cup Baseball (1984). |
| field:javelin thower) and Roberto | | | | In the past, Cuba sent more than 50 |
| Urrutia (weightlifting), Chantaphone did | | | | coaches to study in the World Soviet. |
| not go to the USSR, Bulgaria and East | | | | Alejandrina Herrera was graduated from |
| Germany.The story is the same. Like all | | | | Leipzing Sports School in 1968.Julio |
| the others socialist countries in Asia | | | | Becquer Pino was graduated from Vladimir |
| and Africa, Laosian sport had not | | | | Illich Lenin Superior Culture Physical |
| support from the USSR. | | | | Institute in Moscow.Jose Yañez was sent |
| Between 1960 and 1991, there were more | | | | to the Medicine Academy in Bulgaria.Like |
| than 20 socialists nations in the Third | | | | Loaquin Loo, Verania Piñera and Juana |
| World: Afghanistan (1979-1989), Angola | | | | Bravet Quesis, Jose Godoy Sanchez |
| (1979-1991), Benin (1974-1991), Cambodia | | | | studied physical education at the Moscow |
| (1975-1989), Congo (1969-1989), Ethiopia | | | | Institute of Central.Certainly, Cuba was |
| (1974-1991), Ghana (1961-1966), Guinea | | | | not Laos or perhaps Tanzania. |
| (1960-1991), Guinea Bissau (1974-1991), | | | | REFERENCES: |
| Grenada (1979-1983), Madagascar | | | | 1-Barros, Sigfredo. "Recibió Fidel a |
| (1975-1991), Mali (1962-1991), | | | | los Atletas de Pesas y Boxeo", Granma, |
| Mozambique (1977-1989), Mongolia | | | | La Habana,22 de octubre de 1978 |
| (1950-1990), Somalia (1970-1977), South | | | | 2-Camacho,Rene-Molina,Gabriel. "Inauguro |
| Yemen (1970-1990) and Zimbabwe | | | | Fidel la Escuela de Iniciación |
| (1980-1989). | | | | Deportiva Capitanes Orestes Acosta, de |
| Different from Cuba, the sporting system | | | | la Provincia Oriental Santiago de Cuba", |
| was a disaster in the Third World | | | | Granma, La Habana, 18 de septiembre de |
| Socialist States, for example 17 | | | | 1977 |
| countries did not win an olympic medal. | | | | 3-Gamarra Zorrilla, José. Bolivia |
| Angola made its debut at the 1980 | | | | Olímpica, Publicidad Papiro, La Paz, |
| Olympics Games in the Soviet Union.Only | | | | 1989 |
| North Korea qualified for FIFA World | | | | 4-García Albela, Pedro. "La Serenidad |
| Cup. Meanwhile, Guinea sent 3 athletes | | | | del Vencedor", Cuba Internacional, La |
| to the 1984 Olympic Games in Los | | | | Habana, enero de 1993 |
| Angeles. Between 1962 and 1990, Cuba | | | | 5-García, Anne-Marie. "Regla Torres y |
| depend on aid from the Soviet World. | | | | Eugenio George, los Mejores del Siglo", |
| Different from Laos, Tanzania, | | | | Granma Internacional, La Habana, 17 de |
| Seychelles, the USSR provided massive | | | | diciembre 2000 |
| financial aid for human development and | | | | 6-Guevara Onofre, Alejandro. "Dictadura |
| anti-poverty programs. Much of aid was | | | | y Deporte: El Régimen de Fidel Castro" |
| used in the Cuban sport.Cuba received | | | | en |
| more money per capita to promote sport | | | | 7--"Perfiles del Régimen de Fidel |
| than Brazil ,Taiwan and South Korea. | | | | Castro" en |
| Moscow played a fundamental role in the | | | | 8--"La Cuba de Fidel Castro: La Tiranía |
| Cuba`s rapid sporting | | | | "Ilustrada" del Tercer Mundo" en |
| development.Furthermore, the Kremlin and | | | | 9-"Historia del Deporte en el Tercer |
| East Germany helped sporting program for | | | | Mundo" (I) en |
| children in several cities and regions | | | | 10-"La Olimpiada Barcelonesa", Diario El |
| in the Island.However , The USSR had not | | | | Comercio, Lima, 26 de julio de 1992 |
| a wave of favorable publicity for their | | | | 11-Hernández, Miguel-Lahera, Rolando. |
| aid to sport in Cuba. | | | | "Habla el Bicampeón Alberto |
| Thanks to the generosity of the Soviet | | | | Juantorena", Granma, La Habana, 18 de |
| Union, the Cuban dictatorships was host | | | | septiembre de 1977 |
| to several sporting events as "Jose A. | | | | 12-Jiménez Almira, Marta. "En la |
| Huelga Tournament" (baseball), "Ramon | | | | inauguración de la Escuela de |
| Fonst Tournament" (fencing), "Villa | | | | Iniciación Deportiva Mártires de |
| Clara Cup" (swimming), "Martires de | | | | Barbados", Granma, 10 de octubre de 1977 |
| Barbados Cup"(fencing), "Cerro Pelado | | | | 13-Ortega, Joaquín. "Eloy Martínez |
| Cup" (wrestling), "Raul Capablanca | | | | Habla de Fútbol", Juventud rebelde, La |
| Tournament" (chess) "Barrientos | | | | Habana, 29 de octubre de 1974 |
| Tournament" (track and field), "Giraldo | | | | 14-Park, Seh-jik. The Stories of Seoul |
| Cordova Cardin Tournament (Boxing), | | | | Olympics,Chosun Ilbo, Seoul, 1989 |
| "Moncada Cup" (gymnastics), "Jose Ramon | | | | 15-Quesada Campos, Eliseo. "Tres |
| Rodriguez Tournament" (judo), "Manuel | | | | Extrañas en la Ruta de Claudia", La |
| Suarez Tournament (weighlifting) and | | | | Nación, San José, 20 de julio de 1996 |
| "Cuba Cup" (diving).More than 50 nations | | | | 16-Ruck, Rob. "La Flor y Nata del |
| participated, including Mexico, | | | | Atletismo Hemisférico", Americas, |
| Venezuela, Canada, Jamaica, Colombia, | | | | Washington DC, julio-agosto de 1987 |
| Germany Democratic Republic, | | | | 17-Salmerón, José Luis. |
| Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, North | | | | |