Olympics minister Hugh Robertson has entered the row over 'Plastic Brits' by saying every athlete representing Team GB at the London 2012 Games should know the words to the national anthem.
American-born hurdler Tiffany Porter, who has opted to represent Britain despite living in the USA all her life, was challenged on Thursday to say the words of 'God Save The Queen' after being named as British team captain for the athletics indoor world championships.
Porter, who has dual nationality via her British mother, insisted she did know the first lines to the anthem, and 5,000m star Mo Farah branded the question "unacceptable".
Other athletes drafted into the British team last year include Cuban-born triple jumper Yamile Aldama, USA's 400m runner Shana Cox and long jumper Shara Proctor of Anguilla. Two Ukrainian women, who had hoped to be named as part of the British wrestling team, learned earlier this month that their applications are unlikely to be approved by the Government.
Robertson insists there should be no fast-tracking of foreign-born athletes into Team GB simply because they might win medals - and that those that are accepted should know the words of God Save The Queen.
He said: "If you are going to represent Britain at the Olympics then I think it is sensible to know the words of the national anthem.
"I would say that would be even more necessary if you think you are going to win a medal.
"I am pretty clear on this issue - anyone who wants to compete for Great Britain must hold a British passport or go through the full naturalisation process.
"What I am against is giving special treatment to people simply to allow them to compete for this country."
Robertson said there were many examples in the history of British sport of people who had moved from other countries but embraced the new team.
"Cricket is a classic case," he added. "Allan Lamb came from South Africa to play for England but I would argue now that he is British rather than South African.
"I would also regard Kevin Pietersen as a bona fide Brit."
It is not just athletics and wrestling that have been looking abroad to strengthen their teams.
British cycling have announced that German-born 19-year-old Philip Hindes will travel to the world championships in Melbourne in early April and he is a likely member of Team GB at the Olympics.
Hindes has a British father but represented Germany at the junior world championships in 2010 before joining the Great Britain sprint academy at the age of 18.
Porter's position was staunchly defended by European Indoor 3000m champion Helen Clitheroe, who captained the British athletics team in Paris last year.
"She's an absolutely brilliant team captain, she gave a brilliant team speech last night and inspired us all," Clitheroe said.
"I'm pretty sure if you asked the majority of the team they wouldn't know the words to the national anthem - I do - but it's not a requirement to be our team captain, it's about someone who you can look up to, follow and inspire us, and Tiffany's that person.
"She told us to take a minute and think about why we love the sport before we go out there, why we do it, and for that to inspire us before our race. It was a really good speech. The [national anthem] question is irrelevant."
Speaking after winning her heat in the 60m hurdles to advance to the semi-finals, Porter declined to be drawn on the issue.
"I'm focusing right now on competing and I'm very excited to be here," she said.
"I'm focusing on doing my best tomorrow and in the finals. Right now I'm just focusing on competing and I'm going to do my very best out here today."
It later emerged that UK Athletics had "withdrawn team access" from the Daily Mail, whose reporter asked Porter to recite God Save the Queen on Thursday.
In practice that would have little effect during competition in Istanbul, although the newspaper might not be invited to any team press conferences.
No comments:
Post a Comment