Cuba ended 2007 with 75 places in the 2008 Olympic Games thanks to 12 places earned by the island's volleyball team, local media said on Thursday.

 

Last week's win means that Cuba has now earned places in 13 sports. The full list published by the nation's Sports, Physical Education and Recreation Agency is as follows: Baseball, 24 places; rowing, 9; weightlifting, 6; wrestling, 5; judo, 5; diving, 3; taekwondo, 3; shooting, 3; canoeing, 2; and one for cycling.

 

Cuba seeks to take part in 20 of the 28 sports in the Games and the competition for places will begin from the first days of 2008. More than 30 Cubans have the times needed for athletics qualifying competitions and there are still competitions open away from athletics in boxing, women's basketball, soccer, men's volleyball, table tennis, cycling, diving, wrestling and judo.

 

Cuba has earned 65 Olympic gold medals in its history and more than 100 each in silver and gold. It was 11th in the world wide medals table in 2004's Athens Olympic Games, with nine gold, seven silver and 11 bronze.

 

(Xinhua News Agency December 28, 2007)