Punching above its Weight: Cuba's use of sport for South–South co-operation

Abstract

While known for training world-class athletes to compete in prestigious international competitions, Cuba is also educating 983 coaches from vulnerable communities in 53 countries at its Escuela Internacional de Educación Física y Deporte (eiefd). These athletes are bound not necessarily for the Olympic podium, but for marginalised communities where they are expected to develop sport and recreation programmes. While Cuba has garnered hard currency by training athletes from other countries, the eiefd is funded entirely by the state under the auspices of South–South co-operation. Why would Cuba, a resource-poor country, commit to training foreign coaches? This paper argues that Cuba's sport internationalism is grounded in complex and historical notions of co-operation with other countries in the global South. Through a critical analysis of state policy, and the goals of current initiatives like the eiefd, it argues that, while nationalism and foreign remuneration are a factor, the commitment to sport and development may be tied to broader goals of counter-hegemonic development. For scholars interested in Sport for Development and Peace Cuba's use of sport is noteworthy as it is not necessarily a means to development as much as a result of international social development.