As seen on Swiminfo today.......so much for citizenship eh?! And we complain about masters "superteams"!
Draganja Changing Allegiances to Qatar
ZAGREB, Croatia, December 7. WHILE South Africa’s Roland Schoeman has spurned an offer to switch his allegiance to Qatar, the same cannot be said for Croatian Duje Draganja. The sprint sensation, a 24-year-old, recently accepted a lucrative offer to swim for the Middle Eastern nation, which has been chasing high-profile athletes by offering significant sums of money.
Before accepting the offer from Qatar, which is believed to be at least $1 million, Draganja gave Croatian swimming officials the opportunity to keep him swimming under his homeland’s flag. Ultimately, though, the Arab nation won out and Draganja is expected to race for Qatar at next year’s World Short Course Championships in Shanghai, China.
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I have argued in previous posts that world (vs international) competitions should be between individuals and not between nations. The last thing we need is sport competition heating up international rivalries and inducing nations to organized cheating. I could care less about medal counts, but I do like to watch the best runners and swimmers compete.
These athletes are professionals, and they should be allowed (and encouraged, in the spirit of a free labor market and open shops) to work for whoever pays the best or provides the best future for their career.
I have argued in previous posts that world (vs international) competitions should be between individuals and not between nations. The last thing we need is sport competition heating up international rivalries and inducing nations to organized cheating. I could care less about medal counts, but I do like to watch the best runners and swimmers compete.
These athletes are professionals, and they should be allowed (and encouraged, in the spirit of a free labor market and open shops) to work for whoever pays the best or provides the best future for their career.
