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Speaking more than fifty years go, Castro said "Anybody who truly loves sport and feels sport" had to prefer the Cuban way to professional sport "by a thousand times"

The US blockade on Cuba, which has lasted for more than 50 years and includes restrictions on the nation's sporting institutions, has not stopped them from becoming the most successful Latin American country in Olympics history - despite having a population only slightly greater than that of New York City.

Lee James was joined by Cuban born Roberto Gonzalez Echevarria, author of The Pride of Havana: A History of Cuban Baseball, Film maker and author Brin-Jonathan Butler, who's Cuban memoir the Domino Diaries explores Cuba through sport and fromer Cuban triple jump champion Yamile Aldama.

Photo: Castro surrounded by the Cuba baseball team, Credit: Getty Images