On a rare rainy spring day in Santiago, a group of Cuban athletes toured a gym, one of their first public activities since they represented their country at the Pan American Games — and then asked to stay in Chile.
“We already feel calmer; God willing we get everything we’re hoping for,” said Yunia Milanes, one of six hockey players who has sought asylum in Chile. “We thank the people and the mayors and lawyers, everyone. We want to be another member of Las Diablas [Chile’s hockey team] and be able to represent Chile.”
A seventh athlete has joined the six women in requesting asylum since the Games ended on Sunday.
Photo: AP
They join three other Cuban athletes who fled during a previous athletics competition in Chile in May.
The lawyer who advises the athletes, Mijail Bonito, said that the 10 athletes have received temporary residence documents while their cases are resolved.
The Cuban embassy in Chile did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Photo: AP
Chilean President Gabriel Boric’s government said earlier this week that immigration authorities had received a request for asylum after the Games closed.
A government spokesperson on Friday told reporters that it had received 10 refugee requests from Cuban athletes so far.
The government said that about 20 athletes from the Cuban delegation had not returned to Cuba.
Lazaro Tolon, one of the athletes who stayed behind in May, said that the decision had been “super difficult, super complex,” but that the “main reason we made this decision is to feel free.”
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