Cuban retreat welcomes Olympians
Idalis Ortiz, Julio Cesar La Cruz and Mijain Lopez are among the Olympians to visit Pullman Cayo Coco resort
The term signing in can take on a whole new meaning for some of those who have done Cuba proud internationally at the Pullman Cayo Coco resort.
The all-inclusive resort, found on the island of Cayo Coco off Cuba’s north coast, uses one of its rooms as a shrine of sorts to Cuban athletic greatness, with the walls marked with signatures of Cuban Olympic medalists, some of whom made it to the podium at the Tokyo Summer Olympics. Those who signed the walls identified the sports and the Summer Games they earned their medals in.
Twenty-one Olympic medalists have visited the resort at different times, hosted by Cuba’s National Sport Commission.
Cuba always wins a disproportionate number of medals for a country its size in the Summer Olympics, with many observers crediting good training programs in the likes of track and field and boxing in a country which takes great pride in its athletes who achieve global greatness.
Yannet Mora, Pullman Cayo Coco sales manager, says her resort was thrilled to have the Olympians visit.
“It’s an honour to host these sports legends who have brought so much pride to our country, and they represent the best in the world in their categories,” she says. “This is in line with the different modalities of tourism that our hotel promotes and with the hard work we put on in order to defend, maintain and promote our values, the Cuban culture and sport.
“We were able to meet and spend some time with all the ones have visited our hotel. They were really friendly and appreciative of the attention and follow-up during their stay.”
And will other Cubans who achieve sporting glory on the world stage also be in line for a warm welcome at the Pullman Cayo Coco?
“Yes, for sure,” Mora promises.
