Olympic Outsourcing

[trax1]

I just saw a report on MSNBC about this thing they call Olympic outsourcing, were players that are born and even live in different countries will go play for another country. 

Take the US, we have, I believe they said 39 players playing for us that were born in other countries.  In fact this one girl playing on the US team for table tennis is from China, and even lives in China.  They also mentioned a couple basketball players who are in the NBA who failed to make the US team that are now playing for other countries.

They also mentioned these brothers from Kenya that are now playing for Qatar, and for doing this they got a contract that they get $1000 every month for life.

I just think that this is wrong, the Olympics is supposed to be a contest of the best from different countries competing against each other and represent the country they're from.  I think when one of these people wins a medal for a country that basically bought them doesn't really mean as much as far as showing that the best in that sport is from that country.

One other thing off topic that I heard the other day I found interesting is that quite a few countries actually pay there athletes if they win a medal, I think the US pays out $20,000 for a gold medal.

[Holden McGroin]

I just think that this is wrong, the Olympics is supposed to be a contest of the best from different countries competing against each other and represent the country they're from. 

But when my dear departed father, Patrick (Pat) immigrated here, he became an American.  If there were an Olympic Sport of darts while quaffing ale, he should have been eligible for the American squad. 

[trax1]

But when my dear departed father, Patrick (Pat) immigrated here, he became an American.  If there were an Olympic Sport of darts while quaffing ale, he should have been eligible for the American squad. 

Yeah those people should be allowed, if they've lived here for awhile, but what I'm talking about are people who are recruited & paid to come play for a country.

[lasersailor184]

The same problem exists in the America's Cup.  An American was the skipper of the winning team from Switzerland.  And over half of the people on the American boat weren't american at all.  The team that won sailed for Switzerland, but was bought from New Zealand.


The reason why America hasn't won recently, and that sailor's interests are waning is that there is no national pride anymore.

The American boat was named "BMW Oracle something something."  The last American boat to win was named "Stars and Stripes."


The last AC regatta, the team I was really rooting for was called Shoshalooza, was from South Africa, and had very few outsourced sailors at all. 

[Cthulhu]

The American boat was named "BMW Oracle something something."  The last American boat to win was named "Stars and Stripes."

So true. A bit off-topic, but I for one am sick of corporate sponsors commandeering established sporting events just for the sake of advertising. You example is typical. What's next, the Geico-Kotex Rose Bowl?

OK, I'm done.

[gwano]

The qualification rules would have to be modified, which could easily be accomplished, however the IOC would not benefit from it, so why bother.
Currently, if a person is past over by his or her country,they go looking for another opportunity. That is just the competitive nature of the individual(or financial gain)
I guess some athletes don't have a sense of patriotism.

[trax1]

I guess some athletes don't have a sense of patriotism.

And to me thats what the Olympics are all about, patriotism and having pride in your fellow countrymen being the best in the world.  It's just not the same when the person is playing for us, but would barely qualify as a citizen.

[gwano]

And to me thats what the Olympics are all about, patriotism and having pride in your fellow countrymen being the best in the world.  It's just not the same when the person is playing for us, but would barely qualify as a citizen.

well stated...

[Hangtime]

And to me thats what the Olympics are all about, patriotism and having pride in your fellow countrymen being the best in the world. 

China Addendum: Winna moost medas, roole world fooooevvah!

[Shamus]

It was kinda nice a few years ago when the games were not populated by pro's

shamus

[Patches1]

 I was raised with the notion the the Olympics was all about AMATEUR athletics.

[Holden McGroin]

I was raised with the notion the the Olympics was all about AMATEUR athletics.

That's what the Baron de Coubertine wanted, but money was a more powerful force than his ideal.

[Cthulhu]

I was raised with the notion the the Olympics was all about AMATEUR athletics.

Ditto

[Scherf]

But when my dear departed father, Patrick (Pat) immigrated here, he became an American.  If there were an Olympic Sport of darts while quaffing ale, he should have been eligible for the American squad. 

Oh Holden, tell us again about your dear old Da', would ye?


( ... me boy ...)