Topic: 2025-Safeguarding and Promoting Traditional Sports and Games
Country: Cuba
Delegate Name: Madeleine Baker
Cuba’s traditional sports and games are more than just pastimes; they represent the heartbeat of the nation’s culture, the living history of its people, and a powerful force for unity, identity, and pride. These traditions are woven into the very fabric of society, shaping communities, strengthening values, and maintaining a connection to history. Yet, as globalization accelerates and commercialized sports dominate the international stage, these treasured games face an existential threat. The disappearance of these cultural practices would be detrimental. The safeguarding of traditional sports and games is essential to the Republic of Cuba, not just as a tribute to the past, but as a vital component of the present and future development of this nation.
Cuba has long recognized the power of sport, not just as entertainment, but as a means of social transformation and cultural enrichment. Traditional activities such as baseball, with its citizen-driven roots, and dominoes, a beloved cornerstone of Cuban social life, serve as more than games—they function as cultural rituals that connect generations. Baseball, now an iconic national sport, began as a local tradition before evolving into a symbol of resilience and unity. This deep respect for sport led to the establishment of the National Institute of Sports, Physical Education, and Recreation (INDER) in 1961, an institution dedicated to ensuring athletic participation remains accessible to all, regardless of background. Unlike nations where sports are driven by profit, physical activity in Cuba is viewed as a fundamental right, a philosophy that extends to the protection of traditional games.
Beyond national borders, Cuba has championed the global preservation of cultural heritage. Participation in UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage has reinforced efforts to document and revive traditional games before they are lost. Through the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA), regional partnerships have strengthened cultural exchange, ensuring that traditional sports remain a living part of society. However, further action is required. The loss of these games would not simply mean the disappearance of recreational activities—it would signify the erasure of history, the silencing of ancestral voices, and the severing of a crucial link between past and present culture.
The international community must take decisive steps to protect these traditions. Increased funding for educational programs that integrate traditional sports into school curricula is necessary to ensure future generations inherit these cultural treasures. Global recognition and protection of traditional games are essential to prevent commercialization from stripping them of authenticity. The establishment of international sporting events that celebrate traditional games would provide the visibility and respect they deserve.
Cultural traditions should not be sacrificed in the name of modernization. Traditional sports and games are not relics of the past but integral parts of cultural identity. Their preservation must be prioritized before they fade into history. Immediate action is required to ensure that these invaluable traditions endure for generations to come.
Works Cited
Cuban Ministry of Sport. “Cuban Institute of Sports, Physical Education, and Recreation (INDER).” Cuban Ministry of Sport, 2021, http://www.mindeporte.cu.
UNESCO. “Intangible Cultural Heritage.” UNESCO, United Nations, 2023, https://ich.unesco.org/en/home.
Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA). “ALBA-TCP.” ALBA-TCP, 2022, http://www.alba-tcp.org/en.
“The Baseball Project: The History of Cuban Baseball.” Baseball Project, 2022, http://www.baseballproject.org.
Travel Cuba. “Cuba’s Cultural Heritage.” Travel Cuba, 2021, https://www.travelcuba.org/culture.
