Photo: @MervinMaldonad0
The Minister of People’s Power for Youth and Sports, Mervin Maldonado, denounced the Canadian government for not issuing the visas that by right correspond to the men’s national basketball team that will play against their quintet this Thursday, November 10.
The information was released by the minister through his account on the social network Twitter, @MervinMaldonad0, where he stressed that with this action he violates international regulations on visas for athletes.
We want to denounce that the government of Canada, in clear violation of international regulations on visas for athletes, has not issued the visas that by right correspond to our national men’s basketball team that will play against Canada this Thursday, November 10
(1/2) pic.twitter.com/vMuUyr0yJQ— Mervin Maldonado (@MervinMaldonad0) November 8, 2022
Likewise, he assured that with less than 24 hours remaining, the consulate has not issued the respective visas to the athletes.
In this regard, the Venezuelan Basketball Federation (FVB), on its Twitter account, @FVBbasketball, confirmed that the senior men’s national team is awaiting a response from the Canadian Consulate in Bogotá and the return of the delegation’s passports.
The FVB carried out on time and through the established channels the corresponding process of applying for the Canadian visa, with the accompaniment of the International Basketball Federation of the Americas.
He noted that the national team was prepared at a sporting and logistical level to face this commitment. Likewise, he mentioned that the route to Edmonton, Canada, should have started last Monday, November 7, the date for which the air tickets were purchased.
Likewise, he deeply regretted this situation, which affects sports planning not only for this Thursday’s match, but also for the next commitments and for the goal of qualifying for the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
It should be noted that this is not the first time that Canada has attacked Venezuelan athletes, because in 2020, the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship office denied them an entry visa and their participation in the Grand Prix de Sable Montreal 2020, to the Olympic female saber athlete, Alejandra Benítez.
VTV
