O mesatenista Hugo Calderanothe main name of Brazilian table tennis and prominent in the global scenario, was prevented from entering the United States to dispute or Grand Smash Las Vegasone of the most important tournaments of the world circuit. The reason was a US government security rule that vetoes the use of visa exemption for people who have visited “at risk” countries. In 2023, Calderano was in Cuba to play the Pan American Championship and the selective for the Paris-2024 Olympics.
The athlete tried to join the country with the Portuguese passport – which would enable him to use the visa exemption program (this) – but had the request denied. In seeking clarifications with US border customs and protection, he was informed that because he was in Cuba after January 12, 2021, he was no longer eligible for this type of entry.
The rule was implemented in 2015 and is based on measures to combat terrorism. Countries like North Korea, Iran, Iraq and, more recently, Cuba are part of the so -called “banned list.” Since Joe Biden’s government reincorporated Cuba to this list in 2023, any citizen who has traveled to the Caribbean country necessarily has to request a regular visa – even if he has a passport of one of the 42 countries awarded by the exemption, such as Portugal.
Given the negative, Calderano called his team and tried an emergency visa with the support of the US Table Tennis Association (Usatt) and the country’s Olympic and Paralympic Committee (Usopc), but could not schedule a consular interview in time. The tournament in Las Vegas starts this Friday (07/04), and the Brazilian is officially out of the competition.
– I followed the same protocol of all the previous trips I made to the United States using my Portuguese passport. I mobilized my whole team to get an emergency visa, but unfortunately there was no time – lamented Calderano, who lives one of the best moments of his career.
In recent months, the Brazilian has won the World Cup and was vice -World Cup, as well as winning the WTT Star Contender in Ljubljana last weekend, adding his eighth cup at the circuit. He also said goodbye to the German club Liebherh Ochsenhausen with the German league title, ending a nine -season cycle.
“It’s frustrating to be out of one of the most important competitions of the season because of my control, especially from such positive results,” the athlete said in an official note.
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The Brazilian Table Tennis Confederation (CBTM) expressed support for the athlete and regretted what happened:
– CBTM is very sorry for what happened to Hugo Calderano. The athlete is fine and will participate in other competitions normally, despite the bureaucratic problems faced in the US. The Federation will always continue at the disposal of athletes to assist in cases like this.
Senator Leila Barros, who is a former volleyball player, has classified as “inadmissible” the decision of the US authorities:
– Hugo is an exemplary athlete, who represents Brazil with excellence. It is unacceptable that diplomatic and bureaucratic issues prevent a sportsman from competing.
While Calderano bumped into bureaucratic barriers, other Brazilians are right on Grand Smash. Bruna Takahashi, the country’s main female name, is already in the United States. Laura Watanabe, Giulia Takahashi, Guilherme Teodoro and Leonardo Iizuka are also in the country and compete in the qualifying phase.
The US visa exemption program currently includes 42 countries, including Portugal, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom and Australia. Beneficiaries can remain in the country for up to 90 days, provided they previously fill the form, at a rate of $ 21 (R $ 113.62). Brazil, however, is not included in the list.
List of accepted countries in the US visa exemption program
- Germany
- Andorra
- Australia
- Austria
- Belgium
- Brunei
- Qatar
- Chile
- South Korea
- Croatia
- Denmark
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Greece
- Hungary
- Ireland
- Iceland
- Israel
- Italy
- Japan
- Latonia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Monaco
- Norway
- New Zealand
- Netherlands
- Poland
- Portugal
- United Kingdom (residents of England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and British Islands)
- Czech Republic
- San Marino
- Singapore
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan (the island is treated as a country by the American program)
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