Olympic boxers' tour suddenly canceled

The 10-man Cuban Olympic boxing squad, which was to arrive Wednesday in Bugeat, France, for a week of training and friendly matches with other Olympic teams, has canceled the trip. Fear of defections appears to be the reason. "We are very disappointed, but this forfeiture was ordered at ministerial level in Havana," French trainer Dominique Nato told the French Boxing Federation." However, "because workouts against the Cubans have always been profitable for us, we have arranged to train with them in Cuba, June 14-28. We'll fight some test matches and perhaps an official fight." The Cuban boxers were to join French, English, German, Irish, Filipino and Thai Olympic boxers for a week of practice, followed by a mini-tournament, May 14-16. Later, they were scheduled to travel to England, Turkey and Thailand. Five defections last year -- three in Venezuela, two in Brazil -- apparently prompted Cuban boxing officials to cancel this preparatory tour. To read Le Monde's account (in French only), click here.
---Renato Pérez Pizarro.