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Pelota (baseball) is Cuba’s national pastime. In Havana’s back streets kids hone their skills from an early age, and the older generation’s match post mortems reach fever pitch in Parque Central. The season runs from October-May, culminating in the national play-offs. Sport plays an important part in stimulating national pride. Cuba’s amateur athletes, supported and trained by the state, enjoy an elite, quasi-professional status. Olympic gold medallists, including boxing legend Teófilo Stevenson, join the pantheon of Cuba’s national heroes. In 1991, Cuba hosted the Pan-American Games. Amassing 140 gold medals, Fidel and the nation revelled in its victory over the USA, a first for any Latin nation. In the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Cuba’s medal haul totalled 27, finishing in eighth place – a great achievement for a hard-pressed country with a population of 11 million. There are plenty of activities, which provide opportunities to explore beyond the city. Riding and cycling are very popular, and you can reach the Playas del Este beaches and surrounding countryside easily.
Cayo Santa Maria Hotels On Yahoo Travel
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