In his speech Fernandez made a summary of the panorama of Cuban sport in general before 1959, and the work of the Cuban Revolution natural leader, Fidel Castro, in favor of physical culture and sports.
“The Revolution has been the best used time of my life, assured Fernández, who emphasized also the coincidence of receiving the title in a date that coincides with the birthday of Antonio Maceo and Ernesto Guevara.
A Hero of Work of the Republic of Cuba, Fernandez has deserved other important distinctions as the Order to the Olympic Merit, silver necklace.
Fernández has occupied diverse responsibilities in his political life, as Minister of Education and member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC), and he is a holder of the COC since 1996.
As sportsman practised the shot, the horse riding and the modern pentathlon, between other disciplines, and at present it has 93 years of age.
The act was presided by Antonio Becali, president of the Cuban Institute of Sports, Olga Lidia Tapia, Member of the PCC Central Committee and Héctor Noa, rector of the UCCFD.