Porfirio Álvarez

Porfirio Álvarez was influential in Cuban politics and very briefly, for 5 days in September 1933, was part of a five-man coalition government that ruled Cuba after the fall of the Gerardo Machado regime, termed the Pentarchy of 1933 or the Executive Commission of the Provisional Government of Cuba. His business career was in the financial field and he was President of Banco Nacional de Cuba, treasurer of the City Property Center, manager of the National City Bank and, during the Grau administration, served as Director of Lottery Revenues Department.

In sports, Álvarez was the founder and President of the Vedado Tennis Club and he was also interested in athletics, baseball, tennis, and fencing. He worked closely with IOC President, Henri, Count de Baillet-Latour, to establish the Central American and Caribbean Games. Álvarez became an IOC Member in April 1923 and remained on the committee until November 1937, but never attended an IOC Session. His son, Porfiro Franca Echarte, became President of the Cuban Olympic Committee from 1958-60.