Anybody know how many Americans compete for other countries in the Olympics?

[Heisenberg]

So I'm watching the US vs. Greece women's softball and apparently almost all the players for Greece are American. The pitcher even went to my school. Is it pretty common for Americans to compete for other countries, or is this a freak occurence?

 

[Orsorum]

Pics?

 

[0roo0roo]

peurto rico basketball had some americans right?

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: Heisenberg
So I'm watching the US vs. Greece women's softball and apparently almost all the players for Greece are American. The pitcher even went to my school. Is it pretty common for Americans to compete for other countries, or is this a freak occurence?

It is fairly common, some of the Greek athletes are also Canadian. I think it's more common for the US and Canada to have this happen, as we are the 2 major Immigrant Nations. It likely is happening with European Nations increasingly though.

 

[ShowdOWN]

im sure the country they play for is their country of origin.

 

[dullard]

I don't know the numbers. But the Greeks have had a hard time filling the teams with enough players. I saw something about a few Americans searching for someone who was at least 25% Greek and could play ball. Yep that was all their requirements were: at least one grandparent must have been Greek.

It is very common for someone to play for another country - if they don't qualify for the country they first try for, they will just try out for another country.

 

[welst10]

I think they don't have US citizenship. To represent for a country, he/she must be a citizen of that country.

 

[richardycc]

how is yao ming doing playing for China's basketball team? didn't he say that he won't shave for 6months if his team doesn't get into the final 8?

 

[RabidMongoose]

Originally posted by: welst10
I think they don't have US citizenship. To represent for a country, he/she must be a citizen of that country.

I don't think so. I've read that a significant number - around 20! - members of the Greek baseball team are actually American citizens. It apparently caused some controversy over there, especially since some of them were banned because of substance abuse and then 'brought shame' to Greece even though they weren't citizens...that last part I heard on NBC.

There seems to be a TON of Americans participating for other countries. A lot of them are college students.

 

[Chu]

Originally posted by: richardycc
how is yao ming doing playing for China's basketball team? didn't he say that he won't shave for 6months if his team doesn't get into the final 8?

Somehow that doesn't seem to be too bad coming from a chinese man

 

[CanOWorms]

There are a lot of US residents competing for their countries of citizenship.

 

[bolido2000]

I think the americans in the Greek baseball team are actually US Citizens with Greek heritage. It was funny because they were interviewing them last night and they were saying that they have Greek lessons everyday. Some of them are only 1/4 greek

 

[CPA]

Originally posted by: ShowdOWN
im sure the country they play for is their country of origin.

Technically you're correct, but I think the point is when you use your great, great, great grandfather's link to that country you are stretching it just a bit.

What I find more interesting is the number of foreign athletes that train in the US. In swimming, the South African team that won the 400 relay has 3 team members who swim for the University of Arizona. And a swimmer from Lithuania or some other small European country, can't remember exactly, used his Univ. of California swim cap during his race.

 

[CanOWorms]

Originally posted by: CPA

Originally posted by: ShowdOWN
im sure the country they play for is their country of origin.

Technically you're correct, but I think the point is when you use your great, great, great grandfather's link to that country you are stretching it just a bit.

What I find more interesting is the number of foreign athletes that train in the US. In swimming, the South African team that won the 400 relay has 3 team members who swim for the University of Arizona. And a swimmer from Lithuania or some other small European country, can't remember exactly, used his Univ. of California swim cap during his race.

The girl from Zimbabwe that won a silver in some swimming event goes to Auburn. Someone from Denmark (don't remember what event he was in) lives and trains in the US too.

 

[Doggiedog]

I wonder how many of them are from Astoria, Queens.

 

[sciencewhiz]

Each country has their own requirments. For Greece, a great-grandparent had to be greek. There is no citizenship requirement.

 

[CPA]

Originally posted by: sciencewhiz
Each country has their own requirments. For Greece, a great-grandparent had to be greek. There is no citizenship requirement.

I thought the Olympic governing body regulated that and it's supposed to be followed by all countries.

 

[sciencewhiz]

Originally posted by: CPA

Originally posted by: sciencewhiz
Each country has their own requirments. For Greece, a great-grandparent had to be greek. There is no citizenship requirement.

I thought the Olympic governing body regulated that and it's supposed to be followed by all countries.

From the Olympic Charter, Chapter 4, Section 3:

The NOCs [National Olympic Committees] have the exclusive powers for the representation of their
respective countries at the Olympic Games and at the regional, continental
or world multi-sports competitions patronized by the IOC. In addition,
each NOC is obliged to participate in the Games of the Olympiad by
sending athletes.

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: Doggiedog
I wonder how many of them are from Astoria, Queens.

LOL, I was thinking the same thing!