Hugo Calderano denied entry into the USA! Will miss the USA Smash 2025

[zeio]

Let's move the UN to a neutral country and let's also remove Veto rights. It won't help much but it might be a step in the right direction.

Not gonna happen. There was the P5 with Veto power first before there was the UN...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Security_Council#Veto_power

In the negotiations leading up to the creation of the UN, the veto power was opposed by many small countries and was in fact forced on them by the veto nations—the United States, the United Kingdom, China, France, and the Soviet Union—by threatening that the UN would otherwise not be founded. Francis O. Wilcox, an adviser to the US delegation to the 1945 conference, described the situation:

At San Francisco, the issue was made crystal clear by the leaders of the Big Five: it was either the Charter with the veto or no Charter at all. Senator Connally [from the U.S. delegation] dramatically tore up a copy of the Charter during one of his speeches and reminded the small states that they would be guilty of that same act if they opposed the unanimity principle. "You may, if you wish," he said, "go home from this Conference and say that you have defeated the veto. But what will be your answer when you are asked: 'Where is the Charter?'"[73]

https://ctext.org/hanfeizi/wang-zheng/zh
國小而不處卑，力少而不畏強，無禮而侮大鄰，貪愎而拙交者，可亡也。
(A country that is small but does not humble itself, has little strength but does not fear the strong, is rude but insults its powerful neighbors, is greedy and stubborn but poor at making friends is doomed to perish.)

 

[Der_Echte]

Dainton: Calderano has himself to blame.

“Game On in the USA” — WTT CEO Steve Dainton On Why US Smash 2025 Matters
https://www.worldtabletennis.com/description?artId=5117

zeio,

You were really high on my respect list already, but by saying Hugo KNEW... WHEN the SMASH was gunna be... but DID NOT PREPARE (like other athletes) his visa... you gained more respect by telling it like it is.

Hugo is acting the irresponsible one here by flying in without coordination of visa (expecting an instant visa, although it is published that it takes time) like everyone else does do it ahead of time and did.

You are speaking truth and responsibility here, @zeio . thx.

We see MANY short vids from Adam Barbrow that he tried real hard and BARELY got a visa to go to this county and this country got visa barely in time trying his hardest as soon as he knows he is going somewhere.

This is not an issue of Trump, our govt being a bad player... it is a matter of rules enforced period.

I would agree he might merit some extra consideration, but at the end of the day, you wait in line like everyone else... and so many everyone else did wait in line.

This is not being mean, it is fair and unfortunate Hugo chose to do it this way. Hugo responsibility all the way.

Looks like Hugo took the high road after it was all done and did not slander anyone, good for him and his character.

 

[zeio]

China maintains neutral stance on US election results
https://youtu.be/BaCYv1H8jHg?t=3

Mao Ning
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson
The presidential election is an internal affair of the U.S. We respect the choice of the American people... Our policy towards the U.S. is consistent. We will continue to view and handle China-U.S. relations under the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation.

Gong Pengsheng
Government employee
So there will definitely be an impact on China, including on China's economy, people's lives, and even on the overseas travel of people and the exchanges between nations.

 

[Dr Evil]

Dainton: Calderano has himself to blame.

“Game On in the USA” — WTT CEO Steve Dainton On Why US Smash 2025 Matters
https://www.worldtabletennis.com/description?artId=5117

Calderano has himself to blame, but the fans (and advertisers) also have the WTT and the tournament directors to blame. You make sure that #3 in the world can play in your big tournament even if you have to assign compliance staff to walk him through the bureaucratic maze.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

So, i'm involved with almost 40 players and visa is a problem some of the times. Some times it is a huge problem (ie Fan Siqi getting India visa was a nightmare after having letters from 2 gov ministries included during the application and probably made the 40 day+ application happen in 10 days - which is still very long).

Yes, Hugo is responsible, but some times, you are stuck.

I have 4 players I "need" to get French long term stay visa, and the passport needs to get be sent in for 3 to 4 weeks.
Tell me which international players can do that?

If WTT schedule is not so crazy and the same as during the ITTF world/pro tour days, it was a lot more easier to plan.
But today, you would need to probably take some leave (between June~Aug - which is impossible with all the Smashes) for Visa.

Visa's problem also got to do with booking appointments - like Hugo got stuck.
he got all his paperwork in order, but the embassy appointment booking is full.
how much time it took him to get all the paperwork in order is something I want to know too - since, paperwork some times is a nightmare itself.

I'm looking at the Korean French embassy and the earliest appointment booking is like 6 weeks away - which the player will be late for the Pro A league lol.

Luckily the work permit is approved and the player can still travel in with visa free (up to 90 days). But if long term is require, are forced to still find a way to apply.

So, I have Hugo's experience and understand his frustration.
He was forced to go to Cuba in a way, just like some of our juniors went to North Korea (East Asian Junior champs).
I guess those juniors will also struggle to get into "some countries" due to PRK record.
and the same as if you been to Pakistan, you probably will never get into India.

Politics is a huge problem and the likes of ITTF does need to look after the players and be smart about hosting countries and it would be great if the Local TT hosts can speak to its own gov to waive restrictions for Hugo, but I am sure, the action only started when Hugo knew it was a problem and I doubt if WTT/ITTF knew of the problem and "warned" the players long ago.

I wish to know, how many Schengen states citizen visited that competition in Cuba and if ITTF provided any warnings.
I also wonder those other Cuba affected athletes - if they had near as much of Hugo's packed schedule.
So this kind of seem like, the busy players get punished, and the ones that have free time "have enough time" to get visa? that is also wrong.

LA 2028 - watch out.

 

[backspacer]

So, i'm involved with almost 40 players and visa is a problem some of the times. Some times it is a huge problem (ie Fan Siqi getting India visa was a nightmare after having letters from 2 gov ministries included during the application and probably made the 40 day+ application happen in 10 days - which is still very long).

Yes, Hugo is responsible, but some times, you are stuck.

I have 4 players I "need" to get French long term stay visa, and the passport needs to get be sent in for 3 to 4 weeks.
Tell me which international players can do that?

If WTT schedule is not so crazy and the same as during the ITTF world/pro tour days, it was a lot more easier to plan.
But today, you would need to probably take some leave (between June~Aug - which is impossible with all the Smashes) for Visa.

Visa's problem also got to do with booking appointments - like Hugo got stuck.
he got all his paperwork in order, but the embassy appointment booking is full.
how much time it took him to get all the paperwork in order is something I want to know too - since, paperwork some times is a nightmare itself.

I'm looking at the Korean French embassy and the earliest appointment booking is like 6 weeks away - which the player will be late for the Pro A league lol.

Luckily the work permit is approved and the player can still travel in with visa free (up to 90 days). But if long term is require, are forced to still find a way to apply.

So, I have Hugo's experience and understand his frustration.
He was forced to go to Cuba in a way, just like some of our juniors went to North Korea (East Asian Junior champs).
I guess those juniors will also struggle to get into "some countries" due to PRK record.
and the same as if you been to Pakistan, you probably will never get into India.

Politics is a huge problem and the likes of ITTF does need to look after the players and be smart about hosting countries and it would be great if the Local TT hosts can speak to its own gov to waive restrictions for Hugo, but I am sure, the action only started when Hugo knew it was a problem and I doubt if WTT/ITTF knew of the problem and "warned" the players long ago.

I wish to know, how many Schengen states citizen visited that competition in Cuba (a Pan Am event)
I also wonder those other Cuba affected athletes - if they had near as much of Hugo's packed schedule.
So this kind of seem like, the busy players get punished, and the ones that have free time "have enough time" to get visa? that is also wrong.

LA 2028 - watch out.

I don't think getting the appropriate visa is something most of us really think about. Adam not being able to commentate some event and Bruna missing the German play-offs last year because they couldn't get their visa in time brought it to my attention and now Hugo's story.

 

[JackJohnson]

So, i'm involved with almost 40 players and visa is a problem some of the times. Some times it is a huge problem (ie Fan Siqi getting India visa was a nightmare after having letters from 2 gov ministries included during the application and probably made the 40 day+ application happen in 10 days - which is still very long).

Yes, Hugo is responsible, but some times, you are stuck.

I have 4 players I "need" to get French long term stay visa, and the passport needs to get be sent in for 3 to 4 weeks.
Tell me which international players can do that?

If WTT schedule is not so crazy and the same as during the ITTF world/pro tour days, it was a lot more easier to plan.
But today, you would need to probably take some leave (between June~Aug - which is impossible with all the Smashes) for Visa.

Visa's problem also got to do with booking appointments - like Hugo got stuck.
he got all his paperwork in order, but the embassy appointment booking is full.
how much time it took him to get all the paperwork in order is something I want to know too - since, paperwork some times is a nightmare itself.

I'm looking at the Korean French embassy and the earliest appointment booking is like 6 weeks away - which the player will be late for the Pro A league lol.

Luckily the work permit is approved and the player can still travel in with visa free (up to 90 days). But if long term is require, are forced to still find a way to apply.

So, I have Hugo's experience and understand his frustration.
He was forced to go to Cuba in a way, just like some of our juniors went to North Korea (East Asian Junior champs).
I guess those juniors will also struggle to get into "some countries" due to PRK record.
and the same as if you been to Pakistan, you probably will never get into India.

Politics is a huge problem and the likes of ITTF does need to look after the players and be smart about hosting countries and it would be great if the Local TT hosts can speak to its own gov to waive restrictions for Hugo, but I am sure, the action only started when Hugo knew it was a problem and I doubt if WTT/ITTF knew of the problem and "warned" the players long ago.

I wish to know, how many Schengen states citizen visited that competition in Cuba and if ITTF provided any warnings.
I also wonder those other Cuba affected athletes - if they had near as much of Hugo's packed schedule.
So this kind of seem like, the busy players get punished, and the ones that have free time "have enough time" to get visa? that is also wrong.

LA 2028 - watch out.

For people like us who don’t do any travel much could probably send our passport away for a few weeks but for athletes this is impossible to do if they have to go to different countries every week.

To be honest I don’t blame Calderano that much for not getting the visa on time. I don’t know why people are saying that it’s Calderano fault for not getting the visa. This should really be on ITTF/WTT and host country to sort the visas out for the athletes like other sports codes.

I don’t know if this is possible to do but in the future if ITTF/WTT have all the records on what passport an athlete has they should automatically sort out the visas for the athletes if they know an athlete is most likely to be qualified and go to the event. They should also have an option to add the restrictive countries they been to such as Cuba & NK which lets ITTF/WTT know that it will be a longer process for them and informed them. This should not be a manual process that the athletes have to sort out the visas themselves. This does not happen in other sports codes.

Also how much time do they need to get the visa. The US Smash event I believe was announced last year. Is there a limit on when they can start their application before the event. Would 3 months before the event been plenty of time or would it have to be much longer before then.

 

[Der_Echte]

Calderano has himself to blame, but the fans (and advertisers) also have the WTT and the tournament directors to blame. You make sure that #3 in the world can play in your big tournament even if you have to assign compliance staff to walk him through the bureaucratic maze.

On one level, I would say no way to your suggestion and put the onus on the players... but your are RIGHT @Dr Evil , if one wants a top rate international field, the one organizing it should go an extra mile to ensure it happens as planned by directing an underling some task to help or oversee.

 

[zeio]

For people like us who don’t do any travel much could probably send our passport away for a few weeks but for athletes this is impossible to do if they have to go to different countries every week.

...

I don’t know if this is possible to do but in the future if ITTF/WTT have all the records on what passport an athlete has they should automatically sort out the visas for the athletes if they know an athlete is most likely to be qualified and go to the event. They should also have an option to add the restrictive countries they been to such as Cuba & NK which lets ITTF/WTT know that it will be a longer process for them and informed them. This should not be a manual process that the athletes have to sort out the visas themselves. This does not happen in other sports codes.

Also how much time do they need to get the visa. The US Smash event I believe was announced last year. Is there a limit on when they can start their application before the event. Would 3 months before the event been plenty of time or would it have to be much longer before then.

There is this thing called additional/second/concurrent passports for frequent travelers...

p.s.
WTT had already stated in the prospectus that players who needed a visa must apply by 5/30 through the WTT OES. Calderano chose to go the ESTA route (at least 72 hours prior to travel and the approval stays valid for 2 years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first), meaning he opted out of the assistance provided by WTT/USATT (the recommended route) and from that moment on, he was on his own.

https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/faq?lang=en

When should I submit an application through ESTA?

Applications may be submitted at any time prior to travel to the United States. The Department of Homeland Security recommends that travel authorization applications be submitted at least 72 hours prior to travel. Unless revoked, travel authorizations are valid for two years from the date of authorization, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.

When do I need to reapply for an ESTA?
...
Travel authorization approvals will typically be granted for a period of two years or until the applicant's passport expires, whichever is sooner.

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/tourism-visit/visa-waiver-program.html

Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015

Under the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015, travelers in the following categories must obtain a visa prior to traveling to the United States as they are no longer eligible to travel under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP):

US Smash 2025 Prospectus

GENERAL: By entering the event all acknowledge and agree that they shall comply with the WTT rules, regulations, policies and additional requirements and procedures as issued by WTT.
VISA: To obtain a letter of invitation, please complete ALL visa information needed in the WTT OES no later than: 30 MAY 2025
For any visa related enquiries, please contact EO at: [email protected]

 

[JackJohnson]

There is this thing called additional/second/concurrent passports for frequent travelers...

I didn’t think this was possible, good to know. I’m assuming not all countries would allow this though?

 

[zeio]

I didn’t think this was possible, good to know. I’m assuming not all countries would allow this though?

Many Western countries explicitly allow that. ROC is a rare one in East Asia that does, whereas HKG, JPN, KOR, and PRC don't.

These countries will issue you multiple passports at the same time - here's why
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/countries-that-issue-multiple-passports

With sufficient proofs, the countries that will grant a second passport include Austria, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, and the United States.

While Italy and Switzerland will issue second passports to citizens with valid circumstances, they will officially only allow travel with a single passport at any given time. In the meantime, your second passport must be surrendered to the issuing agency for safekeeping. Malaysia will issue a second passport only for business travel, not for personal leisure travel, and the bureaucratic red tape can be daunting.

Canada and Australia’s passport rules state that a second, short-term passport can be issued, but these are generally only to citizens who are doing business in both Israel and Arab countries where Israeli stamps or visas could be an issue (despite the previously mentioned fact that Israel no longer stamps passports). And even under those circumstances, citizens who have reported obtaining a second passport are few and far between.

Application Directions for a Second ROC Passport
https://www.boca.gov.tw/cp-236-3820-46368-2.html

 

[NextLevel]

Its obvious that what happened was an unfortunate series of events that given Hugo had gotten access to the US unproblematically in the past he did not realize would occur this time. The speed of the prior approval in 2021 may have influenced his perception of how much time he had.This kind of thing happens to people all the time. You drive to work in 30 mins everyday so on this important day, you drive 15 minutes early but get caught in an accident that makes you 30 minutes late - How werr you to know that today was thr 2 hours or you are late day?. It would have been hard for him to be aware that his passport status had changed without an expert monitoring his travel and knowing that visiting Cuba had changed his status.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

Its obvious that what happened was an unfortunate series of events that given Hugo had gotten access to the US unproblematically in the past he did not realize would occur this time. The speed of the prior approval in 2021 may have influenced his perception of how much time he had.This kind of thing happens to people all the time. You drive to work in 30 mins everyday so on this important day, you drive 15 minutes early but get caught in an accident that makes you 30 minutes late - How werr you to know that today was thr 2 hours or you are late day?. It would have been hard for him to be aware that his passport status had changed without an expert monitoring his travel and knowing that visiting Cuba had changed his status.

precisely,
there is no warning what so ever.
and as I said, I doubt any one picked up this problem early enough to warn the players from the hosts.
of course anyone can put blames on the player and dodge responsibility - that to me doesn't feel good.
clearly we can see WTT ceo has made a clear message and set a precedent on how they will handle the situation.

players - you are on your own, the hosts/wtt/ittf are not responsible to inform you on repercussions on where you play your olympic qualifiers.
and this is also a learning curve for the other players.
sadly, it is WR 3.

I do feel if this was CNT and WRno1, and then CTTA calls a meeting, the WTT ceo won't have the same response.

 

[zeio]

Among the first things I noticed on the ESTA application page was the question "If I traveled to Cuba?" I wonder how Calderano missed it (has been there for a while).

https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/

 

[vvk1]

Its obvious that what happened was an unfortunate series of events that given Hugo had gotten access to the US unproblematically in the past he did not realize would occur this time. The speed of the prior approval in 2021 may have influenced his perception of how much time he had.This kind of thing happens to people all the time. You drive to work in 30 mins everyday so on this important day, you drive 15 minutes early but get caught in an accident that makes you 30 minutes late - How werr you to know that today was thr 2 hours or you are late day?. It would have been hard for him to be aware that his passport status had changed without an expert monitoring his travel and knowing that visiting Cuba had changed his status.

I like your optimism - describing Trump's immigration policy changes as "an accident".

 

[JackJohnson]

Many Western countries explicitly allow that. ROC is a rare one in East Asia that does, whereas HKG, JPN, KOR, and PRC don't.

These countries will issue you multiple passports at the same time - here's why
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/countries-that-issue-multiple-passports


Application Directions for a Second ROC Passport
https://www.boca.gov.tw/cp-236-3820-46368-2.html

So when sending in your passport to get a visa issued would you send them the main passport that you usually use or the second passport that was issued?

 

[zeio]

Calderano has himself to blame, but the fans (and advertisers) also have the WTT and the tournament directors to blame. You make sure that #3 in the world can play in your big tournament even if you have to assign compliance staff to walk him through the bureaucratic maze.

WTT is referred to in China as 草台班子/literally "Weed Table Team" for a reason, which is all the more reason for using caution.

Opinions at Tieba are mixed. Some blame Calderano, some blame Trump, some blame US imperialism, some blame ITTF/WTT for hosting competitions in Cuba or USA (and some defend either for their rights to host), some blame those Tieba users for kissing Trump's/America's ass, and some blame WCQ's mom, the whole nine yards...

震惊！果子哥打不成美国大满贯了……
https://tieba.baidu.com/p/9842961952
ligdfdwx ITTF为啥23年偏要在古巴比赛？一点敏感度都没有。
IP属地:浙江24楼2025-07-04 09:05收起回复
(Why did the ITTF choose to host the competition in Cuba in '23? No sensitivity at all.)
加载中请稍候3: 古巴正正常常的国家光明磊落地竞争主办比赛，怎么就不能办？果子哥自己太想当然了，还一会儿怪古巴一会儿怪漂亮国
2025-7-4 10:13回复
(Cuba is a normal country that competed openly to host the competition, so why can't it host? Brother Fruit [Hugo] is taking things for granted, blaming Cuba and Beautiful Country [USA] at the same time)
加载中请稍候3: 回复 琨残 :美国有再多的问题他也不是临时出政策卡果子哥签证，别人以前就已经有这个政策了。主权国家有自己的出入境政策无可厚非，果子哥自己不重视怪不了别人
2025-7-4 12:49回复
(No matter how many problems the US has, it is not a temporary policy to block Brother Fruit's visa. They have had this policy before. It is understandable that a sovereign state has its own immigration policy. Brother Fruit did not take it seriously and cannot blame others) [Same dude as the one above]

老冯看钢市 贴吧里美狗也真不少，古巴难道不是国家，去正常国家参赛也怪世界乒协，真是智障一般的存在；难道体育不是追求公平 公正吗。
IP属地:河南27楼2025-07-04 09:10回复
(There are certainly many America's lackeys here at Tieba. Is Cuba not a country? Putting the blame on ITTF for traveling to a normal country to participate in a competition? That's really as good as a retard; aren't sports about the pursuit of fairness and justice?)

入机+3 话说老美没有特殊人才免签吗，我果子哥好歹是世界冠军+一堆美洲冠军，绝对的美洲一哥，影响力也不小，甚至能营销成反华先锋（澳门世界杯），不懂为什么这么搞。不过这次真不可能是你乒的大手做的了
IP属地:广东来自Android客户端32楼2025-07-04 09:16回复
(Doesn't the US have visa exemption for special talents? After all, my Brother Fruit is a world champion [World Cup winner] + a bunch of American champions, the absolute number one in Americas with considerable influence, and can even be marketed as an anti-China pioneer (World Cup Macau). I don't understand why they do this. But this time it really couldn't have been done by the big hand of your table tennis [CNT])

Llowd2010 骰子妈说了，避战
IP属地:上海来自Android客户端36楼2025-07-04 09:22收起回复
(Dice' mom said it - avoiding battles)
大藤沙月（内战版）: 震惊！美国外交部居然是雨果的人，帮助雨果避战！
2025-7-4 09:26回复
(Shocked! The US State Department is actually Hugo’s man, helping Hugo avoid battles!)

秋风秋雨落叶 全世界那个国家像牢美一样屁事这么多?不去怪不公平的签证引入制度，在这里责怪为什么球员不能更好的滑轨算什么?头一个把zz原因加入体育问题不是牢美是谁?抵制别人奥运会的是谁?转手入侵格林纳达又邀请别人参加本国奥运会的是谁?把古巴打成流氓国家，暗杀领导人，经济封锁制裁几十年，无视联合国，组织猪湾事件，让全世界接受自己的意识形态，牢美霸权主义上瘾发作了还有人洗它?闹钟提倡的更加多远平等普惠开放的国际合作方式被你吃了?zz学到美国去了帮美国的霸权主义和zzzq洗地?
IP属地:上海来自Android客户端42楼2025-07-04 10:37回复
(Which country in the world has as many problems as the US? Rather than blaming the unfair visa policy, what's the point of blaming why the players couldn't kowtow better? Who was the first to apply retarded reasons to sports issues if not the US? Who boycotted other people's Olympics? Who invaded Grenada and invited others to participate in their own Olympics? They labeled Cuba a rogue country, assassinated its leaders, imposed economic blockades and sanctions for decades, ignored the United Nations, organized the Bay of Pigs Invasion, and forced their ideology on the whole world. The US is addicted to hegemony, and there are still people who whitewash it? The more equal, inclusive and open international cooperation method advocated by the alarm clock [Doomsday Clock] has been eaten by you? Have the retards learned whitewashing from the US hegemony and political correctness?)

大波波驴 不行了，笑死我了，看吧友说了半天cuba我还想cuba是什么联赛，不是大学生男篮吗，原来是古巴。。。。。
IP属地:河北来自iPhone客户端54楼2025-07-04 11:47回复
(I can’t hold it anymore, LMAO, after reading Tieba users go on and on about cuba for half a day, I was wondering what league cuba was, isn’t it college men’s basketball? Turns out it’s Cuba…)

 

[zeio]

So when sending in your passport to get a visa issued would you send them the main passport that you usually use or the second passport that was issued?

That depends, but either should be fine most of the time. If your main one has a stamp from sanctioned countries by the destination country, then your second one (usually with a shorter valid period).

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/have-passport/second-passport-book.html

Examples of cases when we may issue a second passport book include:

A foreign country will deny a visa or entry to you because your passport has stamps showing travel to certain countries. Example: an Israeli visa, or entry or exit stamp in some countries in the Middle East.
You need visas for several countries on an ongoing basis because of frequent international travel. Example: you work for an international airline or a multinational company.
You need a U.S. passport for urgent travel, and a foreign country delayed your application for a visa or cannot process it in time for your travel.
When you need:
A special validation for travel to a restricted country or area.
To prevent the cancelation of a valid passport that has a valid visa.
To change an endorsement on your passport book in emergency circumstances.
More endorsements, but they do not fit on the endorsement page of the passport book.

 

[vvk1]

Even the Guardian wrote about it.

Brazilian table tennis star denied entry to US due to having competed in Cuba

Brazil’s Hugo Calderano, the 2025 World Cup champion, will miss this month’s WTT US Smash in Las Vegas after a visa issue linked to a past trip to Cuba

www.theguardian.com

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

Even the Guardian wrote about it.

Brazilian table tennis star denied entry to US due to having competed in Cuba

Brazil’s Hugo Calderano, the 2025 World Cup champion, will miss this month’s WTT US Smash in Las Vegas after a visa issue linked to a past trip to Cuba

www.theguardian.com

so,

Could ITTF/USOPC not help waive the Cuban problem and still allow Hugo in with ESTA? (Hugo + the other players)
We are talking about ITTF - an international body, and the USA Olympic committee, which should have links to the gov / gov departments.

Did they try or was the emergency visa the only solution (mean ESTA is a dead end)