There has been a lot of discussion since Athens about foreign swimmers training in the United States. Most of them attend U.S. Universities, receive athletic scholarships, and compete at NCAA's. Some notable examples include Duje Draganja (Cal), Fred Bousquet and Kirsty Coventry (Auburn), Markus Rogan (Stanford), and the South African sprinters (Arizona). Some train in the U.S., but don't compete for a university (Inge de Bruijn). All of these athletes benefit from U.S. coaching, from training with U.S. swimmers, and in some cases, from financial support provided by U.S. entities (athletic scholarships). They all turn around and then win medals for other countries.
A couple questions: 1) What do you think about this arrangement generally? 2) Is it of benefit or detriment to U.S. swimming to have these foreign athletes training and competing here? 3) Should we be giving athletic scholarships, which are a scarce resource in swimming, to foreign athletes who will represent their own countries internationally instead of U.S.-born swimmers who will represent us internationally?
I'm sure there are other issues, but these come directly to mind.
Geek,
- How about US companies paying taxes in foreign countries, doesn't that based on your argument then "entitle" US athletes to receive finacial support in their universities or clubs? Yes, some US athletes train oversees but I doubt that they aren't paying for that oppurtunity.
- Also, still waiting for you to stop "throwing bombs" and instead answer one of my questions? Name another country anywhere in the world that provides athletic scholorships to US swimmers? track & field? how about hockey? Name any other country in the world that provides free health sevices, education and drivers licenses to "illegal" immigrants?
Geek,
- How about US companies paying taxes in foreign countries, doesn't that based on your argument then "entitle" US athletes to receive finacial support in their universities or clubs? Yes, some US athletes train oversees but I doubt that they aren't paying for that oppurtunity.
- Also, still waiting for you to stop "throwing bombs" and instead answer one of my questions? Name another country anywhere in the world that provides athletic scholorships to US swimmers? track & field? how about hockey? Name any other country in the world that provides free health sevices, education and drivers licenses to "illegal" immigrants?