Dominican INEFI launches historic school tournament as director opposes federation embargo

The National Institute of Physical Education (INEFI) in the Dominican Republic, led by executive director Alberto Rodríguez, inaugurated the "Batalla de las Promociones," an unprecedented tournament for final‑year secondary students. The inaugural edition will be held in Santo Domingo Este, featuring 31 schools from districts 10‑03, 10‑04 and 10‑06 and involving more than 372 participants. The competition uses a group‑stage format followed by knockout rounds to determine a champion.

Rodríguez also publicly rejected a recent embargo imposed by the federations of surf, modern pentathlon, fencing, shooting and nine other sports on the bank accounts of the Dominican Olympic Committee and those federations. He argued the measure is ill‑timed as the country prepares for the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo, emphasizing the government’s investment in sports infrastructure and athlete preparation.