CUBA: BRACING FOR PAN-AMERICAN GAMES

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06923256
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: July 13, 2023
• Document Release Date: August 29, 2022
• Case Number: F-2020-00933
• Publication Date: August 1, 1991

Approved for Release: 2022/08/15 C06923256
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Top Secret
NATIONAL
INTELLIGENCE
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CPAS NID 91-178.1X
1 August 1991
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Top Secret
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Special Analyses
Contents
Cuba: Bracing for Pan-American Games
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Special Analysis
Tufo Secr
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CUBA: Bracing for Pan-American Games
Most Cubans probably are proud to be hosting the Pan-American
occasion to express dissatisfaction over the domestic political and
economic malaise.
Havana has been preparing to host the Games for several years,
diverting scarce construction materials and other resources to build
or renovate dozens of sports facilities in Havana and Santiago de
Cuba. the athletic facilities will
be ready, although construction crews had to work around the clock
to complete some sites.
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Time for Pride, but Possible Protests
President Castro probably is hoping that the Games will divert
attention from the island's economic difficulties. Sports are popular,
and Cuban athletes have performed well in the past; Castro is
calculating that their successes will give the populace a much-needed
psychological boost.
Some Cubans, nevertheless, resent their scarce resources being used
to benefit foreign visitors and athletes during a period of severe
economic austerity. Housing and other public service building
projects have ceased�aggravating an already critical housing
shortage�in order to ensure adequate material for Games' facilities.
Longshoremen initially balked at unloading shipments of food
destined for the Games, Some
construction workers�who expected to receive athletes' housing
units in return for their voluntary labor�are angry over rumors that
the government plans to set aside some units for a tourist complex,
Additional strains on food supplies and on transportation and other
services during the Games may fuel resentment further, although the
security forces probably are capable of controlling small, spontaneous
popular protests. some activists
may attempt to capitalize on the large foreign media presence to stage
incidents�a human rights demonstration or the appearance of an
antiregime banner, for example.
continued
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Difficulties After Games
Even if the Games boost Cuban morale, this probably will be short
lived. Food shortages are likely to be worse later in the summer, when
stocks usually are low, and a public perception that the Games were
the cause would undercut Castro's efforts to blame the scarcities on
shortfalls in Soviet deliveries and would focus popular disaffection on
his economic mismanagement.
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