Haiti enters Central American and Caribbean Games with athletes in different sports disciplines

Editor’s note: A complete official list of Haitian athletes has not yet been publicly released across all sports disciplines as competitions began July 24.

NEW YORK— Haiti officially opened its participation in the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games on July 24, with its delegation marching into the opening ceremony behind flag-bearers boxer Welington Ceneus and Ava Soon Lee as Haitian athletes prepare to compete in the regional event. 

Haiti’s delegation entered the opening ceremony at Santo Domingo’s Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez led by flag-bearers boxer Welington Ceneus and Ava Soon Lee, a Pan American junior taekwondo gold medalist. Soon Lee, a Korean American born in Minnesota, adopted Haitian nationality in sports alongside her sisters to represent Haiti internationally and help develop the national taekwondo program under the guidance of their father, who coaches the team.

The Games, celebrating their 100th anniversary this year, officially opened July 24 with a ceremony featuring the traditional Parade of Nations, cultural performances highlighting Dominican heritage and the participation of delegations from 37 countries. More than 6,000 athletes are expected to compete through Aug. 8.

Competition began Saturday in several sports, with Haitian athletes scheduled to compete throughout the two-week Games.

The Central American and Caribbean Games are the oldest regional multi-sport competition in the Americas and serve as an important stepping stone toward the Pan American Games and the Olympic Games. This year’s edition returns to Santo Domingo, which first hosted the event in 1974 and is staging the centennial Games from July 24 through Aug. 8.

Haiti competition schedule

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