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.
Parents
Former Member
Disclaimer: I’m not really familiar with the details of “US college swimming scholarships”
Nevertheless, I’ll wade in here at great risk, since I see no link between Schoeman’s college scholarship (I’m assuming he had one) and his Qatar (professional swimmer) decision.
As a non-UK person having studied in the UK on an academic ‘fellowship’ (they pay you to study) which was sponsored by private (UK) industry, my own experience would indicate that there are a number of questions to ask in order to know if foreign sportsmen are taking away scholarships from locals. (I’m extrapolating a bit here, of course – I didn’t go for a sports scholarship – hell, you have to train! - yuck)
First, you would have to look at who is awarding these scholarships. Some of these may be designated for foreigners up front and no local swimmer missed out.
You also have to consider the incentives to the various players who want to have world-class sportsmen attend their local university program.
Since world-class athletes from smaller countries tend to have high respect at home, have good contacts and move in influential circles, they are viewed favourably by the various scholarship providers/players listed below:
1) Governments: When returning home the students will be sympathetic and positive in future business deals to the country/state/city where they studied/swam. And, if they actually stay in the host country, they will probably be better than average immigrants.
Even though I studied with private sector sponsorship, the UK Ambassador still wines and dines some of us foreign-based UK grads each year to keep British links going. I don’t think they would do this if there were no return.
2) Universities: Athletes returning home are quite likely to be successful in business and will contribute to the alumni coffers of the university where they had an enjoyable sports experience. Overseas grads are usually especially appreciative alumni and very generous. You may notice how alumni magazines feature overseas groups; there is a reason for this.
3) Swim coaches: If the coach can take an exceptional raw talent, tune it up to say, an Olympic medal, his CV will look a lot better and his job safer. Since only 2 swimmers from the US can be in any Olympic event, the coach can get more medalists/finalists
out of his foreign trainees and increase his fame.
All this to say there are many forces for some foreign content in universities that benefit many players in the short and long run.
Professional sports are a whole other thing, which is what Phil is saying (I think)
Ian
Disclaimer: I’m not really familiar with the details of “US college swimming scholarships”
Nevertheless, I’ll wade in here at great risk, since I see no link between Schoeman’s college scholarship (I’m assuming he had one) and his Qatar (professional swimmer) decision.
As a non-UK person having studied in the UK on an academic ‘fellowship’ (they pay you to study) which was sponsored by private (UK) industry, my own experience would indicate that there are a number of questions to ask in order to know if foreign sportsmen are taking away scholarships from locals. (I’m extrapolating a bit here, of course – I didn’t go for a sports scholarship – hell, you have to train! - yuck)
First, you would have to look at who is awarding these scholarships. Some of these may be designated for foreigners up front and no local swimmer missed out.
You also have to consider the incentives to the various players who want to have world-class sportsmen attend their local university program.
Since world-class athletes from smaller countries tend to have high respect at home, have good contacts and move in influential circles, they are viewed favourably by the various scholarship providers/players listed below:
1) Governments: When returning home the students will be sympathetic and positive in future business deals to the country/state/city where they studied/swam. And, if they actually stay in the host country, they will probably be better than average immigrants.
Even though I studied with private sector sponsorship, the UK Ambassador still wines and dines some of us foreign-based UK grads each year to keep British links going. I don’t think they would do this if there were no return.
2) Universities: Athletes returning home are quite likely to be successful in business and will contribute to the alumni coffers of the university where they had an enjoyable sports experience. Overseas grads are usually especially appreciative alumni and very generous. You may notice how alumni magazines feature overseas groups; there is a reason for this.
3) Swim coaches: If the coach can take an exceptional raw talent, tune it up to say, an Olympic medal, his CV will look a lot better and his job safer. Since only 2 swimmers from the US can be in any Olympic event, the coach can get more medalists/finalists
out of his foreign trainees and increase his fame.
All this to say there are many forces for some foreign content in universities that benefit many players in the short and long run.
Professional sports are a whole other thing, which is what Phil is saying (I think)
Ian
