WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari and Cuban Federation (FCB) President Juan Reinaldo Pérez Pardo signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to seal a shared commitment that dates back to 2019.
Roberto León Richards, the president of the Cuban Olympic Committee and a former Olympian in gymnastics, witnessed the signing at the Latinoamericano Stadium in Havana.
Fraccari and Pérez Pardo both praised the exceptional contribution to the agreement by the late Higinio Velez, the former president of FCB, and the late commissioner Ernesto Reinoso. They led the National Commission of Sports back in 2019. Both leaders fell victim to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fraccari talked about the MOU with the local and international press at the Salón Adolfo Luque of the Latinoamericano Stadium.
The WBSC President explained that the MOU aims to support FCB further developing the game.
"Baseball needs a fresh start after the COVID-19 restrictions," he said.
"One of the goals of this agreement is to help Cuban players legally and safely negotiate deals to play in professional leagues abroad."
The WBSC President also didn't count out the possibility of a professional league in Cuba and said he's confident in seeing Cuba host international events soon.
The WBSC President also commented about the Pan American Baseball Confederation (COPABE) Congress and highlighted the importance of the unanimous support the member countries offered to newly elected president Aracelis Léon, the first woman to serve in the position.
"Baseball in the Americas needs more cooperation between COPABE and the WBSC," Fraccari added.
During his visit to Cuba, Fraccari met Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, the President of the Republic of Cuba.
Diaz-Canel reported about the meeting posting on Twitter. "We confirmed all our support to the development of baseball in Cuba," he wrote.
