What’s my true country?

Sometimes I wonder whether a reasonable and fair choice exists for skiers like some top level skiers like Hirscher and Braathen that choose to be racing for other countries where they hold double citizenship, but still reside and train at their original home base, notwithstanding the crucial fact that it contributed to their athletic development from a very young age. 

I do wonder if this practice really makes any sense and if there should be guardrails to control it more tightly or just prevent it from happening on the athlete’s whim? Obviously the situations with Marc Girardelli, Estelle Alphand, Marcel Hirscher or Lucas Braathen among many others, are all unique and complex.

While they’re switching their national representation due to dual citizenship, it's important to take many factors into consideration. It seems obvious that athletes should be free to choose the country they want to represent, especially if they have strong ties to both. It’s also true that with sports being increasingly globalized, athletes often have easy connections to multiple countries. 

A lot rests on the relevant sports governing bodies and their choice of defining place of residence vs. the nationality under which they decide to compete. The case against allowing these kinds of “transfer” is that it could give certain countries an unfair advantage when they attract “already-made” top athletes from other nations. 

Not only that, but isn’t it a form of thievery against communities, sports clubs and volunteers that have contributed to the long and tortuous development of these athletes. This should call for a financial indemnity representing the cost of training and developing the athlete from the get go. Some people also rightfully believe that athletes should represent their country of birth or primary residence. 

This is why I’m not a fan of this practice that often originates from disagreements between the athletes, their parents, and their federation or more crassly, plain greed and the desire to make more money. 

Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to allow dual citizenship athletes is a complex one with valid arguments on both sides. It needs to be challenged in order to balance fairness, individual choice, and the spirit of international competition.