Will the Olympics become a joke if more athletes compete for countries they aren't from?

Question

Chris Kamen playing for Germany and that American woman playing for Russia? Give me a break. What's next, Kenyans taking over the American track team? The Olympics needs to put a stop to this or risk the games being marginalized.

Answer 1

Yeah I agree, there really has to be some type of rule change. If they are going to play for the country they should be citizens for over 5yrs. Not like Becky Hammond as the Russians have offered her citizenship, lots of $’s and to be part of their Olympic Basketball team. Its really cheapens the game because it presents a potential problematic issue of players getting paid to defect to countries for pay.  How can it be US vs Russia if we just pay players to play for whatever instead of their own County.  It Defeats the purpose of the Olympics.  

Answer 2

Ya, I think it will become a joke.  Olympics your supposed to represent your home country.  I think it is stupid if you dont represent your own country and instead represent a country you moved to.  I wouldn't take it as a joke if the person moved to a certain country when they were young like 2 or something and competed for the country later in life since they lived there for so long. Whatever ill still watch the olympics though.

Answer 3

But who would you call American?  Almost no one on the American teams is Native American!  I think it adds more competition...and besides the olympics are a joke anyway...its all for the money

Answer 4

It's already a joke. And for all the Americans griping about your athletes being unpatriotic, the USA is doing the same thing with foreign athletes, so you're being hypocritical. The Olympics haven't been about amateurs in a couple of decades. There are millionaires all over the place. All countries, including the USA, are buying athletes.

Answer 5

Did it became a joke when Hakeem Olajuwon (A Nigerian Native) played for the US Basketball Team in 1996 Atlanta Olympics?

I think not...coz he played for the US team therefore, there's no big deal about it but when Chris Kaman (A German-American) will play for German National Team in this up coming Olympics, then people is telling that this  Olympic is a joke!!! People should except the fact that Chris Kaman can  represent German National Team cause his a legit German.....

Besides, his (Chris Kaman) too smart to select Germany as his team to play for....you know why?....cause he knows he can't play for the US national team (with tons of superstars rising) in the future!!!!

  

G0t it? Go0d!!!!

Answer 6

some mexican boxers are fighting for usa, i guess they lost the purpose of the real olympics and now its all abaut the money.

Answer 7

Yep. I agree with you. Olympics should be for the 'nationals'. Just like J.R. Holden playing for Russia.