The sharp influx of overseas-based athletes into the ranks of Britain’s Olympic hopefuls has divided opinion, as the host nation attempts to secure a record medal haul at London 2012.
To their supporters, athletes such as the US-born hurdler Tiffany Porter have every right to don British colors in London, provided they fulfill the eligibility criteria set down by Olympic bosses.
However, critics disparage the likes of Porter as a “Plastic Brit,” holding her up as a symbol of a win-at-all-costs selection philosophy that flouts the Olympic spirit, if not necessarily the rulebook.
“Roughly one-fifth of the Great Britain Olympic team is not British and while, to some extent, this positively reflects the cosmopolitan make-up of our country, in the extreme cases ... it amounts to little more than cheating,” was the scathing assessment of Daily Mail chief sports writer Martin Samuel.
The issue was thrown into focus at the world indoor athletics championships in March, when Porter, who was born and raised in the US, but qualifies for Britain because of a British mother, was mischievously asked by a reporter to say the words of the British anthem God Save the Queen.
Porter nervously replied that she knew the words, but preferred not to say them as she wasn’t much of a singer. When pressed to recite them, she replied: “I don’t think that’s necessary.”
Several of Porter’s teammates condemned the line of questioning, but the point had been made.
British Minister for Sports and Olympics Hugh Robertson duly waded into the issue by saying that any athlete representing Britain should be able to sing the anthem.
“If you are going to represent Britain at the Olympics then I think it is sensible to know the words of the national anthem,” Robertson said.
“I would say that would be even more necessary if you think you are going to win a medal,” he added.
For the athletes caught in the crossfire of the debate, the issue has aroused confusion and dismay.
One of Britain’s biggest medal hopes is the world open-water champion Keri-Anne Payne.
Payne was born in Johannesburg to British parents before moving to Britain as a 13-year-old. Payne regards herself as British, but is equally proud of her South African roots.
“I can sing it [the British anthem] and I can also sing the South African one,” Payne said recently. “I have so much to thank South Africa for — my childhood and it got me into swimming and things.”
“I don’t see why it would be an issue that someone would want to swim or run for Great Britain, surely we should be championing that. Why would you have a problem with anybody that is British wanting to compete for Britain? It confuses me,” she added.
Another British hopeful is the Canada-born women’s basketball player Sarah McKay, who speaks with a broad Canadian accent and whose favorite Olympic memory is Canada’s victory over the US in the 2010 ice-hockey final.
McKay is eligible to represent Britain because both of her parents are British, but she acknowledges that her presence is a “very touchy subject.”
“Both of my parents were born here, I have become a part of this country and I am proud to be representing Great Britain,” she said. “The only thing that’s missing with me is a British accent.”
“It is a very touchy subject and I understand where both sides are coming from and the way it looks, but I just think there needs to be a bit more understanding. The governing bodies are only doing what’s going to help these teams compete,” McKay said.
She believes the most eloquent response to her critics will be made in the Olympic arena.
“I guess the only way you can really prove that you are proud to be representing your country is to compete for that country at the top level and try your hardest,” she said.
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Revelations of positive doping tests for nearly two dozen Chinese swimmers that went unpunished sparked an intense flurry of accusations and legal threats between the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the head of the US drug-fighting organization, who has long been one of WADA’s fiercest critics. WADA on Saturday said it was turning to legal counsel to address a statement released by US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) CEO Travis Tygart, who said WADA and anti-doping authorities in China swept positive tests “under the carpet by failing to fairly and evenly follow the global rules that apply to everyone else in the world.” The
Taiwanese judoka Yang Yung-wei on Saturday won silver in the men’s under-60kg category at the Asian Judo Championships in Hong Kong. Nicknamed the “judo heartthrob” in Taiwan, the Olympic silver-medalist missed out on his first Asian Championships gold when he lost to Japanese judoka Taiki Nakamura in the finals. Yang defeated three opponents on Saturday to reach the final after receiving a bye through the round of 32. He first topped Laotian Soukphaxay Sithisane in the round of 16 with two seoi nage (over-the-shoulder throws), then ousted Indian Vijay Kumar Yadav in the quarter-finals with his signature ude hishigi sankaku gatame (triangular armlock). He
Rafael Nadal on Wednesday said the upcoming French Open would be the moment to “give everything and die” on the court after his comeback from injury in Barcelona was curtailed by Alex de Minaur. The 22-time Grand Slam title winner, back playing this week after three months on the sidelines, battled well, but eventually crumbled 7-5, 6-1 against the world No. 11 from Australia in the second round. Nadal, 37, who missed virtually all of last season, is hoping to compete at the French Open next month where he is the record 14-time champion. The Spaniard said the clash with De Minaur was