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Out-of-Africa gold rush prompts disquiet at Asian Games

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Welcome to competitive athletics, where sport is also a commodity. Qatar is about 83% ex-pats, it's the world's richest per capita country, they're believed to have bought the World Cup and yeah, buying athletes isn't out of the realm of possibility. But how do you legislate a country using an athlete that now claims Qatar is their home? Unless you make it so only native born athletes can compete... US, England, France, etc wont be happy about that.

Asian countries in no way want a foreigner representing their country in international competition because of pride of their race, whereas other countries just want to win, baby!

2 ( +4 / -2 )

That's not true, as Japanese National Soccer team sort of have a tradition to have one imported foreigner in the team usually from Brazil like Ramos Ruy, Lopes Wagner ,Santos Alessandro, Tanaka Tulio, in the past World Cups and had Suzuki Musashi (Jamaican) in this Asian game. If it's legal, every country will do it including Asian countries.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

so the east asians are whingeing that they can't beat africans who emigrate to another country? well, there's an easy solution to that, and that is to allow more immigration into your countries. east asians are some of the most homogenous countries in the world. open up your borders and reap many of the benefits of a multicultural society.

2 ( +2 / -1 )

There are lots of Kenyan runners competing for Japanese university and company teams. I's obvious that they were 'recruited' for their athletic prowess rather than them naturally going down that path. Isn't that basically the same thing? Like rickyvee says, if they want to compete in the same way on a national level they should encourage those African runners who study or work in Japan and want to stay here long term to get Japanese nationality. But of course they'll never do that because they are so one-race minded. Imagine an African winning Olympic marathon gold for Japan...exactly you can't imagine it right? Luckily we have Mo Farah...

3 ( +3 / -1 )

There is this idea that allowing more immigrants in just so that the local sports team can compete is whats needed. Of course just a few years ago France learned this was not so the hard way. Sparking a race row and for good reasons. Allow mass immigrants in, in particular Africans just for the sake of having a better sports team? or an excuse to promote the failed ideology of multiCULTuralism? won't work.

Sports don't matter anyways.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Wah wah wah, they are bigger and stronger than us and they are not Asian. As if you had a chance in the Olympics, Pan Am games, or Commonwealth games.....stop crying and compete.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Japan is in no position to complain. What about the ice-skating pair from the US? Besides that, it just sounds like they want the bar lowered to meet their mediocre standards.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

You can't whine about others winning because they are taller if there are no height restrictions, be it in running, tennis, or anything else. And if height restrictions are imposed those running in the restricted races need to understand they cannot be called champions because they are not able to compete with the best and only able to win due to said restrictions. I agree that complete diversion of funds from training local talent going to buying racers from elsewhere is a major loss to the nation in the long and short run, but show me a nation that doesn't buy talent for some sports and rush nationality on them. Japan certainly does this in some sports.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

I think its unfair because they are taller and have a longer stride, men’s 100 meter silver medallist Su Bingtian told AFP. They are more powerful and athletic. Physically we are at a disadvantage.

Never heard of this Chinese Bingtian fellow - because he is an athletics also-ran making excuses. With his attitude, he may as well retire now as he has zero chance in international competition.

Japans Kei Takase, who was third in the 100m, said Asians could be left behind as the bar set by African runners at Asias Olympics gets higher and higher.

Ditto for this fellow excuse-maker Takase. Train harder and show some guts, or choose a new sport.

You don't hear many white-guys these days whining that its too hard to beat Africans in sprinting - they just get on with it. Christophe Lemaitre of France has a 9.92 under his belt, and he didn't get there by having loser-attitudes of this Chinese and Japanese pair.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

smithinjapan

Sorry simithy but you got that wrong because most of the natualized atheletes like Santos Alessandro, Tanaka Tulio, Asashoryu, Kotooshu, etc. were brought here when they were in low mid teens attended highschool going through the same curriculum. Japan saw raw potential and the scouts took the time and effort to train and educate to the heights they achieved. They were raw gem that Japanese education polished and nurtured. There is a distinct difference in buying talent at it's height and the Japanese approach.

If you have any doubts look up which high school they all attended.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

There is a distinct difference in buying talent at it's height and the Japanese approach.

Valid points there with the names you've mentioned, SamuraiBlue. However I would be interested to know your take on the Japanese national rugby team - almost half of whom were foreign-born at the past world-cup. Many of these guys came over to Japan in their mid to late 20s. Japanese polished and nurtured?

show me a nation that doesn't buy talent for some sports and rush nationality on them. Japan certainly does this in some sports.

Smith is bang on here. A great many Asian nations are nations made up of immigrants. Questioning the right to compete for their countries of those foreign-born athletes - as the Chinese and Mr. Takase have done - just smacks of sour grapes. Do these guys actually want an ethnic-based international games? Sounds like apartheid...

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

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