HAVANA, Cuba.- The director of the National Center for Sex Education, Master of Science Mariela Castro, and Havana City Historian Eusebio Leal, received on Thursday the Eureka Award for academic excellence.

The award, granted by the World Council of University Academicians (COMAU), was handed over by its president, US professor Todd Fletcher, during the closing ceremony of the 33rd World Meeting of the organization, held at the “Lazaro Peña” Theater in this capital.

Also receiving the award, granted for the first time to Latin American personalities, were Orlando Terre, president of the World Organization of Special Education, and Dominican Margarita Cedeño, First Lady of her country, to whom it will be sent.

Another Cuban prize-winning professional was Gladys Bequer, in the categories of Novel Projects and Publication, with the Program of Community Physical Activity “For Life” and “Child Psychomotor Activity,” respectively.

Likewise, the publications “Musical Voyage throughout Pregnancy,” by Argentinean Gabriel Federico, and “Educate Emotions,” by Chilean Amanda Cespedes, also received prizes, while the Leader Prize went to the project “International Glare,” from Mexico.

The ceremony was a favorable framework to officially inaugurate the First World Congress on Psychomotor Activity, Education and Stimulation of Movement and Early Chile Development, under way at Havana’s Convention Center until February 4.

Alberto Juantorena, twice champion in Montreal 1976 and vice-president of the Cuban Sports Institute, delivered the welcoming speech to the delegates from 38 nations attending the event as of Friday.