The Colombian Ministry of Sports and the Olympic committee of that country have announced their positions regarding the upcoming Barranquilla 2024 Intercontinental Professional Baseball Series. In a statement released on Tuesday, they clarified that the event organized by Team Rentería USA is a private and invitational event, not organized by the Colombian Baseball Federation or part of the calendar events of the World Baseball and Softball Confederation.
The statement also mentioned that the event does not have funding from the Ministry of Sports, nor the endorsement of the Colombian Olympic Committee or the Colombian Baseball Federation. They emphasized that any event in Colombia must meet the requirements established in current Colombian sports legislation.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Sports and the Colombian Olympic Committee expressed their rejection towards the actions and demonstrations of the Cuban Professional Baseball Federation -FEPCUBE-, which intends to use the name, representation, and national symbols of the Republic of Cuba without the respective authorization or recognition from the Colombian government or sports authorities of the country.
The use of these symbols would be interpreted as a clear infringement of the constitutional and sporting rights of the Republic of Cuba. Consequently, the Colombian Government, represented by the Ministry of Sports, as well as the Colombian Olympic Committee, exclusively and legitimately recognize the Cuban Baseball and Softball Federation.
The statement comes in light of the upcoming Barranquilla 2024 Intercontinental Professional Baseball Series, raising concerns and clarifications about the organization and endorsement of the event. The Colombian Ministry of Sports and the Olympic committee’s positions have been made public to address any misconceptions and ensure proper recognition of baseball federations and events in Colombia.