Dominican Republic braces for Santo Domingo 2026 as Cuba locks in 13 karate spots

Iván Ruíz, a Dominican publicist and TV producer, described the planned Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo 2026 as a national challenge and urged unity to achieve victory. He stated that sport unites the country and emphasized the need to do everything possible to emerge victorious, quoting him: “El deporte nos une como país y unidos tenemos que hacer todo lo posible para salir vencedores.” The remarks underscore the host nation's expectations as it prepares to stage the event. Separately, Cuba secured 13 karate berths for the Games after a qualifying tournament held in the Dominican capital, signaling strong Caribbean participation as Santo Domingo 2026 approaches. The Cuban team concluded the qualifier with a solid performance, positioning its karate program prominently in the run-up to the event.