New York Cosmos set June date to play Cuba in Havana

[TheDemSocialist]

Reuters) - The New York Cosmos have arranged a sporting step in the move toward normalizing relations with Cuba by announcing on Monday a June 2 match in Havana against the Cuba national soccer team.
Three months after President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro vowed to restore diplomatic ties severed 54 years ago, the Cosmos announced plans to be the first U.S. professional soccer club team to play in Cuba since 1978.
"We had several trips to Washington, my colleagues met with the State Department officials responsible and they've been truly fantastic, a lot of support," said Seamus O'Brien, chairman of the North American Soccer League club.
Attending the news conference in midtown Manhattan were U.S. Congressmen Charles Rangel and Gregory Meeks.

Read more @: New York Cosmos set June date to play Cuba in Havana

The Cosmos being a US soccer to go to where no other has gone in many, many years. :clap:

 

[Hatuey]

Read more @: New York Cosmos set June date to play Cuba in Havana

The Cosmos being a US soccer to go to where no other has gone in many, many years. :clap:[/FONT][/COLOR]

I think this is good in the sense that it's a positive link between both cultures. However, "many, many years" is relative. Relations between Cuba and the US began to warm in the 90s and the Baltimore Orioles actually played a few exhibition games with the Cuban national team. Then Bush 43 was elected and things kind of went ... south again. I'd be more interested in opening up a tangible and permanent cultural exchange between Cuban and American artists. It's not like the CIA hasn't tried it before with good results. It's an incredibly positive way to encourage peaceful democratic change. We don't need Cuba to turn into Iraq.