Abandoned Blitz tunnels under London could be the city's latest tourist attraction
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Fox Sports
3 hours ago
- Fox Sports
'The disappointment is huge:' Cuban women's volleyball team denied US visa to compete in Puerto Rico
Associated Press HAVANA, Cuba (AP) — The Cuban women's national volleyball team was denied a chance to play in a tournament in Puerto Rico following the new visa restrictions imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump. The Cuban Volleyball Federation said last week that the team, comprising 12 athletes, a referee, and several coaches, had their visa request denied and will be unable to attend the tournament later this month. 'The disappointment is huge because I train every day, every hour of training is leading up to this and dedicate myself to it,' national team player Laura Suarez told The Associated Press. 'It's really disappointing not to be able to participate in the competition, which is what I've been preparing myself for.(asterisk) Cuba was scheduled to play in the NORCECA Women's Final Four tournament in Manatí, Puerto Rico. The tournament includes the host nation, Mexico and Costa Rica and it awards ranking points toward qualification for the Volleyball Nations League. 'We were focused on the competition because it's right there," said Dayana Martínez, another player. "Arriving at the embassy and being denied the visa affects us a lot because that competition gives us points to improve our ranking,' The Cuban team's coach, Wilfredo Robinson, said the decision means his team is likely to miss out on the Nations League. 'The competition grants points for each match and at the end it all adds up," Robinson said. 'In September we have another tournament and if we get there needing to achieve 80 or 100 points we are not going to be able to do it.' The United States added Cuba to a list of 12 countries with restrictions for entering the U.S. or its territories, effective from early June. It includes nationals from Afghanistan, the Republic of Congo, Iran, Venezuela, and other nations. 'Denial of visas is part of a racist and xenophobic list of visa restrictions,' Cuban foreign minister Bruno Rodriguez wrote on his X account. In a message sent to The Associated Press, the U.S. Embassy in Cuba stated that, according to its privacy policies, it could not comment on specific cases but that directives were being implemented to secure the borders and protect U.S. communities and citizens. The Cuban women's national team won back-to-back world championships in 1994 and 1998. It also won three Olympic golds in a row in Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000. The U.S. measures are likely to impact many more Cuban athletes who depend on international competitions, including some on American soil to qualify for major championships and the next Olympics scheduled to be played in Los Angeles in 2028. ___ AP Volleyball: in this topic
San Francisco Chronicle
4 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
'The disappointment is huge:' Cuban women's volleyball team denied US visa to compete in Puerto Rico
HAVANA, Cuba (AP) — The Cuban women's national volleyball team was denied a chance to play in a tournament in Puerto Rico following the new visa restrictions imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump. The Cuban Volleyball Federation said last week that the team, comprising 12 athletes, a referee, and several coaches, had their visa request denied and will be unable to attend the tournament later this month. 'The disappointment is huge because I train every day, every hour of training is leading up to this and dedicate myself to it,' national team player Laura Suarez told The Associated Press. 'It's really disappointing not to be able to participate in the competition, which is what I've been preparing myself for.* Cuba was scheduled to play in the NORCECA Women's Final Four tournament in Manatí, Puerto Rico. The tournament includes the host nation, Mexico and Costa Rica and it awards ranking points toward qualification for the Volleyball Nations League. 'We were focused on the competition because it's right there," said Dayana Martínez, another player. "Arriving at the embassy and being denied the visa affects us a lot because that competition gives us points to improve our ranking,' The Cuban team's coach, Wilfredo Robinson, said the decision means his team is likely to miss out on the Nations League. 'The competition grants points for each match and at the end it all adds up," Robinson said. 'In September we have another tournament and if we get there needing to achieve 80 or 100 points we are not going to be able to do it.' The United States added Cuba to a list of 12 countries with restrictions for entering the U.S. or its territories, effective from early June. It includes nationals from Afghanistan, the Republic of Congo, Iran, Venezuela, and other nations. 'Denial of visas is part of a racist and xenophobic list of visa restrictions,' Cuban foreign minister Bruno Rodriguez wrote on his X account. In a message sent to The Associated Press, the U.S. Embassy in Cuba stated that, according to its privacy policies, it could not comment on specific cases but that directives were being implemented to secure the borders and protect U.S. communities and citizens. The Cuban women's national team won back-to-back world championships in 1994 and 1998. It also won three Olympic golds in a row in Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000. The U.S. measures are likely to impact many more Cuban athletes who depend on international competitions, including some on American soil to qualify for major championships and the next Olympics scheduled to be played in Los Angeles in 2028.
7 hours ago
Greenland has a message for the rest of the world: Come visit
NUUK, Greenland -- NUUK, Greenland (AP) — Greenland has a message for the rest of the world: We're waiting for you. 'Come visit Greenland,' said Nukartaa Andreassen, who works for a water taxi company in the capital city, Nuuk. 'Learn about it, learn about us. We love to have you. We love to tell our stories and our culture.' The mineral-rich Arctic island is open for tourism. Whale-watching tours, excursions to the iconic puffin island and guided charters through remote settlements are just the beginning of what Greenland has to offer visitors. Locals want to show what makes the island unique beyond a recent diplomatic dustup with U.S. President Donald Trump. 'Our goal and mission is to present and be the ambassadors of Greenland,' said Casper Frank Møller, the chief executive of Nuuk-based tour guide company Raw Arctic, 'and to show what beauty you can experience while you're here.' The tourism industry is expected to see a boom this year following the launch of a new route between Nuuk and Newark, New Jersey. The inaugural flight June 14 was the first direct travel from the U.S. to Greenland by an American airline. Before the direct flight, air passengers departing from the U.S. needed a layover in Iceland or Denmark to reach Greenland. The change benefited travelers like Doug Jenzen, an American tourist who was on the United Airlines plane from New Jersey. 'I came with the purpose of exploring some of the natural sites around the world's largest island, hoping to support things like ecotourism and sustainable travel while supporting the local economy,' Jenzen said. Cruise ships can already dock on the island but they bring less money to businesses catering to tourists because passengers sleep and usually eat on board. Some 150,000 tourists visited Greenland in 2024, according to Naaja Nathanielsen, Greenland's business minister. 'We really want to grow the tourism sector. It's a very good fit for many in Greenland,' Nathanielsen added. 'Tourism is about good vibes. It's about sharing culture, sharing history. It's about storytelling. And as Inuit, that's very much part of our heritage.' Greenland gained worldwide attention when Trump earlier this year announced he wanted to take control of the semiautonomous Danish territory, through a purchase or possibly by force. Denmark, a NATO ally, and Greenland have said the island is not for sale and condemned reports of the U.S. gathering intelligence there. Despite the diplomatic tension, Frank Møller of Raw Arctic sees an upside. 'It has kind of put Greenland on the world map. And it's definitely a situation that Raw Arctic has used to our advantage,' he said. Still, beefing up the tourism industry should happen at a pace that prioritizes the voices and comfort levels of the roughly 56,000 people on the island, he added. Andreassen, of Nuuk Water Taxi, agreed. 'It's very important for me to tell my own story. Because I always feel like when I meet new people, I always introduce a whole Greenland,' she said. 'It's important for me to show our own culture, our own nature. Not by television, not by other people from other countries." In June, Pinar Saatci, a 59-year-old Turkish tourist, saw several whales breach the ocean surface during a boat tour. 'It's very exciting to be here, at the other part of the world, so far away from home," she said. 'It's a very exciting and unforgettable moment.' Risskov Rejser has visited Greenland several times through her travel company for Danish travelers. But she is worried about the impact of a tourist invasion. 'For me, the worst thing would be if mass tourism starts and people come here, and sort of look upon the Greenland people as if they were a living museum," she said. "It has to be done in a respectful way and you have to consider what the consequences are.'
