Can You Change Countries For The Olympics ?

Question

If Your Frm England And You Want To Run For Another Country In The Olympics (E.g Jamaica) Would That Be Possible ?

Answer 1

Yes, you would have to become a citizen of that country or a permanent resident. Rebecca Hammon did it in basketball. She was snubbed by the US team, now she is playing for Russia.

Rebecca Lynn "Becky" Hammon (Russian: Ребекка Линн Хаммон; born March 11, 1977) is a professional basketball player currently under contract with the San Antonio Silver Stars of the WNBA. An American by birth, she took up Russian citizenship in order to play for Russia in the 2008 Olympics. From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Becky_Hammo...

Answer 2

There are different rules for the federations of different countries and sports. For example, Becky Hammon, an American-born WNBA player, is playing basketball for the Russia team because she had previously played internationally in a Russian League, and since she had never played for another country internationally, they allowed her to become a naturalized citizen and play for them. She has no ancestral ties to Russia, but she did it because she was told that she would not make Team USA and she wanted to compete in the Olympics. So, it depends on the rules of the sport and the country.

Answer 3

yeah you can. look at yow ming. he plays on the houston rockets and is playing for the chinesse basketball team

Answer 4

Yes, you can clain nationality by naturalization or even easier if you claim it by decent or birth. Like how Merlene Ottey is now running for Barbados. If your parents are Jamaican, you have methods to claim citizenship.

What I'd like to know is how the h**l did the US manage to adopt that 10000m African athlete that was winning them all for Ethiopia I think

Answer 5

You would have to become a citizen or permanent resident.

This happened a few times in the old South Africa during apartheid. A few people from South Africa ended up representing another country, after a due process of course.

Answer 6

No,because you are from England which not Jamaica,you wasn't a citizen from Jamaica,very easy to answer this.