I don't care if you represent either the country you were born in or the country where your parents originate from as its such a gray area these days which just gets confusing and gives you a headache.
But once you've decided on representing that Nation for me its not right that you should be allowed to switch again, even in Football Friendlies, once you've put on the shirt of said team that should be it!!
yeah not a very nice thing to do as he was happy to fight at olympics in 2004 for gb, wonder how his boxing career would of taken off if he represented pakistan. me if i was any good at sport could represent england, scotland or roi, due to family, wouldnt feel right for me lining up with the scotland team singing flower of scotland.
I remember when I first saw him fight on tv, his family were waving the Pakistan flag. The next time it was the Union Jack. Has used this country as a convenience and if he does fight for them can go and fuck himself.
yeah not a very nice thing to do as he was happy to fight at olympics in 2004 for gb, wonder how his boxing career would of taken off if he represented pakistan. me if i was any good at sport could represent england, scotland or roi, due to family, wouldnt feel right for me lining up with the scotland team singing flower of scotland.
Same with me... The rules are so silly these days I've got the right to represent India because my Grandad was born out there (His father was serving in the British Army at the time) but would never think of lining up for them.
Although it shows how bad at Football I really am when India dont even want me either
Not fussed at all, Lennox Lewis represented Canada at the olympics but didn't stop us pretending he was British. Anyone that gets angry over this needs to get a grip
I dont even think Amir Khan should be going to the Olympics as its not for professionals but for amateurs... Golf and Football fair enough being part of the Games yet the former should be a competition between the top amateurs in the World whilst the Football teams sent should be the Non-League National Teams (i.e. England "C").
Or even still, none of the major Sports should even be involved in the Olympics
Yet another event though thats been swallowed by the corporate world though!!
I dont even think Amir Khan should be going to the Olympics as its not for professionals but for amateurs... Golf and Football fair enough being part of the Games yet the former should be a competition between the top amateurs in the World whilst the Football teams sent should be the Non-League National Teams (i.e. England "C").
Or even still, none of the major Sports should even be involved in the Olympics
Yet another event though thats been swallowed by the corporate world though!!
Spot on. Doesn't bother me if he represents either the UK or Pakistan, he has strong connections with both nations as do pleanty of people who live in our country.
Not fussed at all, Lennox Lewis represented Canada at the olympics but didn't stop us pretending he was British. Anyone that gets angry over this needs to get a grip
I dont even think Amir Khan should be going to the Olympics as its not for professionals but for amateurs... Golf and Football fair enough being part of the Games yet the former should be a competition between the top amateurs in the World whilst the Football teams sent should be the Non-League National Teams (i.e. England "C").
Or even still, none of the major Sports should even be involved in the Olympics
Yet another event though thats been swallowed by the corporate world though!!
Since the Olympic movement dropped the requirement for amateurs, I understand it's for each sport to decide its entry criteria. So if boxing wants professionals that's up to them. However, to change the rules this close to the event, when a lot of amateurs have put in years of effort only to now have the chance of being dumped for a pro, seems very wrong. If boxing wanted to change, they should have made it for the next Olympics (Tokyo?), not this one.
agree with @ForeverAddickted golf is there really a call for it i watch the 4 majors and thats enough.
Same with Tennis... You've got their four Majors... Why the need to encroach on lesser watched Sports taking their thunder?
The IOC should instead concentrate on sorting out event numbers for the classic Olympic Sports i.e. You get 34 potential swimming events which involve the breast stroke / back stroke / doggie paddle yet then you have almost half that number of Cycling events (Its been lowered since last time)...
Its not like the two events use the same stadium (be brilliant watching if they did) so why the need to remove them?
agree with @ForeverAddickted golf is there really a call for it i watch the 4 majors and thats enough.
Same with Tennis... You've got their four Majors... Why the need to encroach on lesser watched Sports taking their thunder?
The IOC should instead concentrate on sorting out event numbers for the classic Olympic Sports i.e. You get 34 potential swimming events which involve the breast stroke / back stroke / doggie paddle yet then you have almost half that number of Cycling events (Its been lowered since last time)...
Its not like the two events use the same stadium (be brilliant watching if they did) so why the need to remove them?
After 2012 it's definitely time to retire tennis from the Olympics !
Not fussed at all, Lennox Lewis represented Canada at the olympics but didn't stop us pretending he was British. Anyone that gets angry over this needs to get a grip
I'm fuckin fuming
Says the bloke from Grove Park who won a gold medal for France in Shooting Rats.
What happens if a Pro boxer comes up against an Amateur... Does one have to wear a helmet whilst the other doesnt? Or is it a case of the two will be separate competitions entirely?
My rule for the Olympics, is that winning an Olympic Gold should be the ultimate achievement in your sport. The one you'll be known for, for the rest of your life.
For athletics, this is clearly the case, as it is for sports like AMATEUR boxing, weightlifting, hockey, equestrian, swimming, wrestling, track cycling etc
Sports like Football (which at least is restricted), Tennis, Golf etc clearly don't come in this category, similarly letting in professional boxers, and at such a late stage is crazy.
34 swimming events is ridiculous but not as ridiculous as professionals who's highest sporting achievement isn't an Olympic gold medal. I think Olympic football could be interesting/relevant if professionals were banned.
If every country put their best pros forward then it would circumvent the ludicrous politics in the sport and force fighters together and the gold would be unified champion albeit over 3 rounds.
Would also pit the cubans against opponents they'd never otherwise meet which would be interesting.
Two different games though the ams and pros so would be strange to see.
As for Khan I imagine his touted appearance for Pakistan would do a lot more for the people of that country than if he rocked up again in a GB top.
Certainly wouldn't view it as him turning his back on the UK....he's been extremely vocal and patriotic about his pride at being British over the years probably at a time when it would have been easier not too in terms of the political climate.
He's said he may fight for a country where he has roots ...he's not handed his passport back to the Queen.
At the same time I do think it's bollocks that you can represent more than one country in international sport but I suppose it's a modern phenomenon and symptom of global movement etc.
I'm just trying to work out how this impacts my Brexit/EU vote.
1) It's unlikely that Khan would be able represent GB, as we are unlikely to send professionals to the Rio Olympics.
2) The reported comments were made at a press conference in Pakistan, so it may well have just been Khan playing to the room.
Probably best to see if anything actually comes of it before getting too worked up about it.
You know you could have mentioned this sooner @i_b_b_o_r_g wouldnt be so fuming!!
Fuckin would be, damage has been done. he might aswell join ISIS
The Oxford University rowing team? I'm not sure he'd be heavy enough and he'd certainly have to give up boxing to concentrate on learning the technique.
Comments
I don't care if you represent either the country you were born in or the country where your parents originate from as its such a gray area these days which just gets confusing and gives you a headache.
But once you've decided on representing that Nation for me its not right that you should be allowed to switch again, even in Football Friendlies, once you've put on the shirt of said team that should be it!!
Although it shows how bad at Football I really am when India dont even want me either
I dont even think Amir Khan should be going to the Olympics as its not for professionals but for amateurs... Golf and Football fair enough being part of the Games yet the former should be a competition between the top amateurs in the World whilst the Football teams sent should be the Non-League National Teams (i.e. England "C").
Or even still, none of the major Sports should even be involved in the Olympics
Yet another event though thats been swallowed by the corporate world though!!
Secondly, who cares who he fights for if he does go, it's not exactly like he is adored by the British public as it is anyway.
The IOC should instead concentrate on sorting out event numbers for the classic Olympic Sports i.e. You get 34 potential swimming events which involve the breast stroke / back stroke / doggie paddle yet then you have almost half that number of Cycling events (Its been lowered since last time)...
Its not like the two events use the same stadium (be brilliant watching if they did) so why the need to remove them?
Aquatics
Diving (8)
Swimming (34)
Synchronized swimming (2)
Water polo (2)
Archery (4)
Athletics (47)
Badminton (5)
Basketball (2)
Boxing (13)
Canoeing
Slalom (4)
Sprint (12)
Cycling
BMX (2)
Mountain biking (2)
Road (4)
Track (10)
Equestrian
Dressage (2)
Eventing (2)
Jumping (2)
Fencing (10)
Field hockey (2)
Football (2)
Golf (2)
Gymnastics
Artistic (14)
Rhythmic (2)
Trampoline (2)
Handball (2)
Judo (14)
Modern pentathlon (2)
Rowing (14)
Rugby sevens (2)
Sailing (10)
Shooting (15)
Table tennis (4)
Taekwondo (8)
Tennis (5)
Triathlon (2)
Volleyball
Volleyball (2)
Beach volleyball (2)
Weightlifting (15)
Wrestling
Freestyle (12)
Greco-Roman (6)
For athletics, this is clearly the case, as it is for sports like AMATEUR boxing, weightlifting, hockey, equestrian, swimming, wrestling, track cycling etc
Sports like Football (which at least is restricted), Tennis, Golf etc clearly don't come in this category, similarly letting in professional boxers, and at such a late stage is crazy.
1) It's unlikely that Khan would be able represent GB, as we are unlikely to send professionals to the Rio Olympics.
2) The reported comments were made at a press conference in Pakistan, so it may well have just been Khan playing to the room.
Probably best to see if anything actually comes of it before getting too worked up about it.
Would also pit the cubans against opponents they'd never otherwise meet which would be interesting.
Two different games though the ams and pros so would be strange to see.
As for Khan I imagine his touted appearance for Pakistan would do a lot more for the people of that country than if he rocked up again in a GB top.
Certainly wouldn't view it as him turning his back on the UK....he's been extremely vocal and patriotic about his pride at being British over the years probably at a time when it would have been easier not too in terms of the political climate.
He's said he may fight for a country where he has roots ...he's not handed his passport back to the Queen.
At the same time I do think it's bollocks that you can represent more than one country in international sport but I suppose it's a modern phenomenon and symptom of global movement etc.
I'm just trying to work out how this impacts my Brexit/EU vote.