On social networks, Cuban users ask for help for the return to the island of the legendary former judo teacher, Ronaldo Veitía, who remains hospitalized in Spain after suffering various health complications.
In mid-September, the journalist Julita Osendi reported that Veitía’s children had reached an agreement with the country’s authorities to bring the former coach back. However, a publication this Thursday asks for help for Veitía and his son, who was supposed to accompany him on the trip, but his Cuban passport expired.
“Today we have learned about the attentions by the Embassy of Cuba in Spain, which have offered two tickets for the transfer of the Doctor Honoris Causa of Cuban Judo: Ronaldo Veitía Valdivie, who is 75 years old and in a very delicate state of health” says Misael González, professor at the “Manuel Fajardo” University of Physical Culture and Sports Sciences (UCCFD).
Similarly, he recalled that Veitía is “a Glory of the Cuban Sports Movement, which was decorated by the Order of Sports Merit, the highest distinction awarded by the Council of State in the Republic of Cuba to personalities or groups that have maintained an impeccable career. In addition, he is a National Hero of Labor in the Republic of Cuba”.
Regarding the documents necessary to finalize the transfer, González emphasizes the request “to the Highest Authorities of Cuba” to “intervene due to the weak health conditions that Maestro Veitía presents.” Likewise, he said that he was waiting for “the Country’s Highest Direction to collaborate with his return and hospitalization.”
Also a publication on the Facebook page called “Ronaldo Veitía Valdivié Fans” shares the alleged request for help by the former coach’s son, Ronaldo Veitía Quiñones, from Alicante, Spain.
“The itinerary would be Alicante-Madrid-Havana. I cannot accompany him (which would be ideal) because I have an expired Cuban passport and according to information provided by the Consulate, renewal can take up to 2 months, a time that my father cannot wait, who is still admitted after 68 days in the hospital and whose only wish is to return to their homeland,” he says.
“The person accompanying you has the return ticket available immediately. The flight will be carried out in business class due to the fragility of Professor Veitía’s health”, he clarified.
“I request help from the authorities of our country or some international health organization to be able to process my passport urgently or a safe-conduct that allows me to accompany my father on his return to Cuba, to be able to leave him at the Havana airport and return immediately. to Spain, the country in which I live and have my family and professional life for 17 years. Hopefully this request will have some echo and receptive ears”, he added.
Likewise, if he cannot obtain a passport on time, he asks for the favor of someone “who can accompany him on his trip, because due to his current state of health he needs help during the journey.” “For this, he should have a valid passport, be immediately available for the trip and be in the physical condition necessary to help the Professor during the journey,” he specifies.
Among the health complications of the former teacher, there is a syncope that he suffered in September. Veitía, 74, is considered one of the best judo coaches at an international level. For more than three decades he trained the Cuban national women’s judo team. In 2018, he was inducted into the IJF Hall of Fame in Baku, Azerbaijan, showing a fruitful career that includes 25 Olympic medals, five of them gold and 10 silver. Of 57 medals won at World Championships, 16 are gold.
