so you live, work and train in the US....

[lillygator]

Well, firstly, he's a male. And I don't know why, never had the opportunity to ask him.

ha!! snarky fun!! I had no idea he was a male and of course you don't know him personally.

 

[DebbieB]

http://multimedia.olympic.org/pdf/en_report_122.pdf

See rule 42, pages 81, 82.

42 Nationality of Competitors*
1. Any competitor in the Olympic Games must be a national of the country of the NOC which
is entering such competitor.
2. All disputes relating to the determination of the country which a competitor may represent
in the Olympic Games shall be resolved by the IOC Executive Board.
Olympic Charter
In force as from 7 July 2007
82
Bye-law to Rule 42
1. A competitor who is a national of two or more countries at the same time may represent
either one of them, as he may elect. However, after having represented one country in
the Olympic Games, in continental or regional games or in world or regional championships
recognised by the relevant IF, he may not represent another country unless he
meets the conditions set forth in paragraph 2 below that apply to persons who have
changed their nationality or acquired a new nationality.
2. A competitor who has represented one country in the Olympic Games, in continental or
regional games or in world or regional championships recognised by the relevant IF, and
who has changed his nationality or acquired a new nationality, may participate in the
Olympic Games to represent his new country provided that at least three years have
passed since the competitor last represented his former country. This period may be
reduced or even cancelled, with the agreement of the NOCs and IF concerned, by the
IOC Executive Board, which takes into account the circumstances of each case.
3. If an associated State, province or overseas department, a country or colony acquires
independence, if a country becomes incorporated within another country by reason of a
change of border, if a country merges with another country, or if a new NOC is recognised
by the IOC, a competitor may continue to represent the country to which he belongs or
belonged. However, he may, if he prefers, elect to represent his country or be entered in
the Olympic Games by his new NOC if one exists. This particular choice may be made
only once.
4. Furthermore, in all cases in which a competitor would be eligible to participate in the
Olympic Games, either by representing another country than his or by having the choice
as to the country which such competitor intends to represent, the IOC Executive Board
may take all decisions of a general or individual nature with regard to issues resulting
from nationality, citizenship, domicile or residence of any competitor, including the
duration of any waiting period.

 

[kaytieeldr]

The competitors in question - and others - aren't living and training here at our government expense, are they? So, what's the big deal.

They train here because we obviously have the best training facilities.
They live here because it wouldn't make a whole heck of a lot of sense to commute from their home countries.
They compete for their home countries because, well, that's where they LIVE.

One of the Slovakian triathletes is Russian. That's even still her home. But because her son can't live with her if she trains in Russia, she transferred to a different country's team.

 

[bumbershoot]

It's quite simple actually. A lot of times they don't qualify for the USA team, as it's very competitive here, so they go and compete for their "home" country. It happens all the time. I don't begrudge these people the opportunity to compete in the Olympics, whether it be for us or another country who gives them the opportunity.

Agreed.

I thought by that you meant there are Americans who live and train overseas but compete for the USA team. I was just asking for an example since I don't know of any.

Apolo Ohno learned to speed skate in Canada, and trained there. Didn't live there, but spent huge amounts of time there.

They said in their coverage that Chile is used by American skiiers to train during our summer.

why doesn't she compete for the Netherlands?

Probably b/c he's not Dutch?



In the opening coverage, they were pretty clear on the people who lived in one place and competed for another country, and the reasons why.

The guy who works here for Microsoft and is married to an American, but he's from...hmm, Peru? Something like that. He is obviously not a US citizen (as my own MIL was not for most of the decades she's lived here), so he plays for his country of birth.

There were others but it was late and I don't remember everyone right now.



If you were really really really good at a sport, but not good enough for the US, and you had a familial connection to another country that could get you into the Olympics, wouldn't you go for it? I know I would!

 

[shortbun]

Sorry, he's a basketball player, and at the Beijing olympics, he carried the flag for the Chinese contingency.

AND his name is "Yao Ming' and he played basketball for China in the Olympics.

 

[Planogirl]

Americans train and compete all over the world. It's wise to get as much experience and knowledge as possible and that comes from many places.

What's the big deal?

 

[bavaria]

The competitors in question - and others - aren't living and training here at our government expense, are they? So, what's the big deal.

They train here because we obviously have the best training facilities.
They live here because it wouldn't make a whole heck of a lot of sense to commute from their home countries.
They compete for their home countries because, well, that's where they LIVE.

AND the argument could be made that by living and training in America they are adding to your economy, correct?

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Not to mention that the U.S. olympic team could see what they are up aginst, and train even harder.

 

[HamTown]

One of our ice dancers, Tanith Belbin, holds dual citizenship with Canada but competes for us. In fact, there was quite a scandal regarding the timing of her citizenship before the 2006 games.

There is a Japanese born skater competing for Russia who obtained her Russian citizenship last year.

Sometimes its simply a matter of getting a chance (U.S. born swimmer with British mother who competes for the U.K. because she couldn't make our very strong team). With the ice skaters, they find a partner to work with from a different country and for 3 out of 4 years it doesn't matter. Only in the Olympics so they pick one country and make it work.

 

[Kies99]

What's the big deal?

You said it all right here Planogirl!

 

[minkydog]

It's quite simple actually. A lot of times they don't qualify for the USA team, as it's very competitive here, so they go and compete for their "home" country. It happens all the time. I don't begrudge these people the opportunity to compete in the Olympics, whether it be for us or another country who gives them the opportunity.

Me either. And often these other countries provide more financial support to the athletes. If they can afford to live and train in US facilities, why is that a problem? As far as I can see, it just levels the playing field.

 

[crashbb]

Happens in Canada as well.

There are some Americans who train in Canada (but compete for the US). And Canadians who train in the US (but compete for Canada).

In these cases, it isn't a matter of not making it for you country and competing for another, it is just going where the best training is to be found.

 

[golfgal]

It's quite simple actually. A lot of times they don't qualify for the USA team, as it's very competitive here, so they go and compete for their "home" country. It happens all the time. I don't begrudge these people the opportunity to compete in the Olympics, whether it be for us or another country who gives them the opportunity.

Exactly

The competitors in question - and others - aren't living and training here at our government expense, are they? So, what's the big deal.

They train here because we obviously have the best training facilities.
They live here because it wouldn't make a whole heck of a lot of sense to commute from their home countries.
They compete for their home countries because, well, that's where they LIVE.

One of the Slovakian triathletes is Russian. That's even still her home. But because her son can't live with her if she trains in Russia, she transferred to a different country's team.

Even the US Olympic athletes don't train here at our government expense. The US is one of the few if the only country that doesn't pay for the training of their Olympic athletes.

 

[eliza61]

Does it? Seriously, I'm not being snarky. I really don't follow sports, but I do remember watching the Olympics as a kid and seeing the bios of the competitors. I saw many that lived and trained here but competed for their home country.

It doesn't really bother me that much. I mean if I did excel at a sport and could make it in a world class competition. No matter where I lived I'd want to compete for the USA. I'm sure others have the same affinity for their native homelands as well. I do admit to feeling a bit of pride in all the things our country afforded others though.

Sure, I think last summer quite a few basketball players went to play on their countries national teams.

 

[Aristomommy]

Our family has dual citizenships for both children and I believe my kids identify with both sides of their heritage. Neither one is an Olympic hopeful, but I understand people who would choose to represent the other country. Also, many athletes would never have a chance to go to the Olympics representing USA but their other country is glad to have them even if they are not #1.

Training facilities for many winter sports are all over the world. Athletes from USA go to Chile in the summer time in search of snow, and other countries come to training centers here.

Figure skating is probably the most extreme field when pairs skaters and ice dancers find partners all over the world. With such a small pool of candidates (esp. male skaters) the teams are often multinational. It's all about following Olympic dreams and experiencing something only a fraction of people get to experience in their lifetime.

 

[allison443]

but when you want to qualify for the Olympics -USA is tossed aside!

Which athlete(s) are you referring to? Are they even eligible to compete for the US?

 

[Disneyadore]

why doesn't she compete for the Netherlands?

Because we don't need him.
We can win the gold ourselves



Ice skating is a disease in the Netherlands. It is in our blood as soon as we are born.
When the temperature drops the whole country gets the "fiver ".
There is nu cure you are addicted for life.

 

[Mickey's Minion]

Oh and an FYI, USA speedskater Shani Davis lives and trains in the Netherlands, but competes for the USA. How do you feel about that snub for the Netherlands?

And Apolo Ono trains in Vancouver. By the OP's reasoning then, he should be competing for Canada.

 

[Mickey's Minion]

No. He competed for China in basketball. And Canadian Steve Nash competed for Canada. And other NBA players compete for their home countries, not the USA.

Same with a bunch of the hockey players. They live in the US and play hocky in the NHL, yet during the Olympics, they always p.lay for their home team.

I don't see a problem with it.

 

[georgina]

There are 3 American figure skaters (all from the same family) competing for other countries in ice dancing -

http://www.recordernewspapers.com/a...s-sentinel/news/doc4b736f275c057007230866.txt


Cathy, now 22, and Chris, now 20, will skate for Japan.

“After Cathy and Chris won the US Novice Ice Dance in 2006, they could not compete in Junior level for the upcoming year because of Cathy’s age,” she said. “They had a dual citizenship in the United States, and in Japan. So they decided to skate for Japan, which allowed them to compete internationally.”

Allison, now 15, is the youngest athlete at the 2010 Olympics, and she is skating for the country of Georgia with her partner, Otar Japaridze.