The economic crisis in Venezuela is hampering the development and preparation of athletes

Venezuela’s economic turmoil is significantly hampering the preparation and competitiveness of its athletes, putting the country at a disadvantage compared to countries with stable economies. The government’s focus on sanctions overshadows broader issues such as corruption and infrastructure deficiencies.

Venezuela’s ongoing economic crisis has severely damaged its sports programs, putting the country at a disadvantage compared to countries with more robust financial support. In this critical scenario, the government of President Nicolás Maduro blames part of the problem on international sanctions, especially those imposed by the United States.

High-performance coach Luis Salas told EFE that a country without a strong economy has difficulty “competing with the great powers,” which have more resources to invest in coaches, infrastructure and sectors such as medicine and technology. “Countries with certain weaknesses will not be able to enjoy the benefits that monetary resources guarantee,” said the former director of High Performance at the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

Salas believes Venezuela and Cuba have “a similar situation”: both are countries with “battered economies” and “lack the best infrastructure.” While some investment has been made in Venezuela’s sports facilities, much more is needed to “compete with the major powers.”

Impact of sanctions and economic downturn

According to Salas, the sanctions have caused significant financial losses to the Sports Ministry, resulting in cuts to the maintenance and development of sports facilities. The Venezuelan government’s Observatory Against Blockade (OVA) reported that the country’s dollar revenues fell from $39 billion in 2014 to $743 million in 2020, meaning Venezuela lost 99 out of every $100 it received in seven years.

Nevertheless, experts argue that while sanctions have aggravated the crisis, the underlying causes lie in corruption, mismanagement and economic controls. Ecoanalítica, a Venezuelan consultancy, noted that the Venezuelan economy shrank by 75% between 2014 and 2020, with slight growth in subsequent years: 1% in 2021, 8% in 2022 and 1% last year.

Salas emphasizes that human resources are a priority for Venezuela to improve its global sports position. “Venezuela has a good population to produce a better example,” he says, suggesting that the country could achieve a higher global ranking with better investment in infrastructure and human resources, including physical education teachers and coaches.

The need for human resource development

Salas points out that one of the most important indicators of a developed country is the quantity and quality of physical education teachers, who can identify and nurture potential talents in schools for sports clubs. However, there is a significant shortage of around 60,000 physical education teachers in Venezuela, a figure that has worsened over the past two decades.

Organizations, NGOs and opposition leaders claim that the shortage of teachers and other professionals is a direct result of the mass migration of Venezuelans. According to the Interagency Coordination Platform for Refugees and Migrants (R4V), approximately 7.77 million Venezuelans have left the country, although the government claims the number is less than 2 million.

The exact number of coaches in Venezuela has yet to be discovered due to a lack of comprehensive data, except for high-performance coaches, which number fewer than 400, Salas said. He advocates creating an organization to represent the coaching profession, track data, identify needs and formalize qualifications to ensure athlete safety and development.

Venezuela’s Performance at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

Venezuela competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, which were postponed until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite economic challenges, the country performed its best in Olympic history, winning four medals, including a gold. Triple jumper Yulimar Rojas broke the women’s world record with a jump of 15.67 meters. Veteran freestyle BMX cyclist Daniel Dhers took a silver medal in the sport’s Olympic debut. Julio Mayora and Keydomar Vallenilla won additional silver medals in weightlifting, with all Venezuelan lifters finishing in the top eight.

However, not all athletes lived up to expectations. Cyclist Orluis Aular led much of his race, but had to abandon shortly before the finish. Boxing and fencing, which had done well in previous Olympics, underperformed, with notable athletes such as 2016 boxing silver medalist Yoel Finol and 2012 fencing gold medalist Rubén Limardo losing their first matches.

Challenges and prospects for Venezuelan sport

The economic difficulties have had a major impact on the preparation and performance of Venezuelan athletes. Sanctions, while significant, are only part of a broader crisis that includes deep-rooted corruption and inefficient management.

The decline in dollar revenues has severely limited the financing available for sports infrastructure and development programs. For example, in May, Venezuela reported losses of more than $2 billion in first-quarter revenues in 2024 due to sanctions, despite 88% of the days measured falling within a period in which sanctions were suspended.

Investments in sports infrastructure and human resources are crucial for Venezuela to improve global sports performance. With better financing and management, the country could use its large population to identify and develop athletic talent.

The potential for improvement is clear. Despite the current challenges, Venezuelan athletes have shown resilience and excellence on the world stage, as evidenced by their performance at the Tokyo Olympics. Continued support and investment in sports can help Venezuela regain and surpass its previous athletic achievements.

Addressing the Human Resources Shortage

Salas emphasizes the critical need for investment in infrastructure and human resources to improve Venezuela’s position in international sports. He notes that physical education teachers are key in identifying young talent and encouraging their development. However, the country faces a shortage of around 60,000 physical education teachers, highlighting the urgent need for more teachers to support the country’s youth.

The migration crisis has increased the shortage of qualified professionals in various sectors, including sport. With millions of Venezuelans leaving the country in recent years, there has been a significant brain drain that is not only affecting education but also the wider sports ecosystem. Developing a robust education and training framework for coaches and teachers is essential to closing this gap.

Creating an entity to oversee the training and certification of coaches would standardize the profession and ensure that athletes receive high-quality coaching. Such an organization could also maintain a register of coaches, identify gaps and needs, and work to formalize the qualifications needed for coaching, thereby improving the overall quality of sports training in Venezuela.

Venezuela’s economic crisis poses significant challenges to athlete development and preparation. While international sanctions have played a role in exacerbating these issues, underlying issues such as corruption and mismanagement are critical factors that must be addressed.

Investing in infrastructure and human resources is paramount for Venezuela to improve its global sporting performance. The country’s recent success at the Tokyo Olympics shows the potential of its athletes, despite challenging circumstances. With better support systems and strategic investments, Venezuela can nurture its athletic talent and improve its position in the international sporting arena.

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The path to recovery and growth in Venezuelan sport lies in addressing both the immediate effects of the economic crisis and the long-term structural issues that are hampering development. By focusing on education, training and infrastructure, Venezuela can create a sustainable environment in which its athletes can thrive and succeed on the world stage.