International Association of Sports Press Awards Cuban Journalist Jesús G. González Bayolo

December 31, 2021

The Americas branch of the International Association of Sports Press recognized Jesús G. González Bayolo with the Abelardo Raidi Award for Lifetime Achievement.

The distinguished journalist Jesús González Bayolo was awarded the Abelardo Raidi Prize for Lifetime Achievement granted by the Americas branch of the International Association of Sports Press (AIPS América).

In an official statement, AIPS América announced the names of the award winners in 2021, among which are representatives from 13 countries in the region, namely Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Uruguay and Venezuela.

González Bayolo, National Prize for Sports Journalism in 2018, is a recognized media professional in the country, with a fruitful career from 1970 until his retirement.

He has participated in coverage of major events such as the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and 2000 Sydney Olympics, the 1991 La Habana Pan American Games, the 1978 Medellín and 1982 La Habana Central American and Caribbean Games; the 1981 Bucharest Universiade, the 1984 Moscow Friendship Games and the 1993 Bolivarian Games in Bolivia.

He also covered several world weightlifting championships and three world chess olympiads (Dubai 1986, Calviá 2004 and Turin 2006); a world team chess competition (Beer Sheva, Israel, 2005), and two universal youth events (Tunja 1989 and Medellín 1996).

Especially in chess, he is a respected specialist within the Cuban press and in other countries. He was a member of the press committee of the international chess federation between 1994 and 2010.

He has published several books, among which stand out Capablanca, the Chancellor of Chess (2002); Daniel Núñez between Bars and Records (2013); A Great Man Known as Guillermito (2018); Nicolás Guillén and Sport (2018) and Lasker (co-author, 2009).

González Bayolo is the sixth Cuban journalist to receive the Abelardo Raidi Award for Lifetime Achievement, established by AIPS América in 2011. Previously it was awarded to the prestigious colleagues René Navarro, Víctor Joaquín Ortega, Elio Menéndez, Ramón "Piti" Rivera and Roberto Pacheco.