There are reports going round of a 'controversial' interview given by Dan Martin's uncle, Stephen Roche. In this interview Roche has suggested that Martin chose to represent Ireland rather than Britain as a cyclist just to advance his career. By far the most shocking thing about this story is that it is in anyway considered controversial. As I recall Martin has always been pretty open. His decision to ride for Ireland was at least in part motivated by a lack of support for road racing from a track focused British Cycling. That he doesn't settle down each night under a tricolour duvet humming 'A Soldier's Song' hardly marks him out as unusually unpatriotic.
For decades now athletes who have the option have frequently selected the nationality that offers them the best career opportunities. England's cricket teams have relied for decades on players who may be British by passport but South African by accent. Jack Charlton's 'plastic paddy' world cup squads on the 90's was almost as overt in its willingness to embrace players with tenuous connections (or none in the case of Tony Cascarino). In cycling Britain happily embraced the likes of Michael Wright, a Belgian who had to take English classes so he could talk to his team mates. And of course Chris Froome is probably is a current case from Martin's own sport.
Increasingly the notion of Nationality is going to be hard to pin down. There was the case a few years ago when the much of the British team at the cycling road race world championship followed their trade team loyalties and rode in support of the Italians rather than doing their plucky best for the home grown also ran. The best footballers from around the world are coached and developed by European Clubs whether they are African, Korean or even Brazilian. And they are playing alongside each other every week. Globalisation both of the labour market and of sport will increasingly mean athletes will be able to choose their nation, and national differences between sports will narrow.
In this environment there will be a hierarchy of national teams across a sport. Of course there will always be sports people who feel such a strong national allegiance that even if offered the option they could not represent any other nation. But plenty will simply go for the best offer, which normally boils down to 'which is the best squad I have a decent chance of getting into.' And why not. These are professional athletes. In opting for Ireland Dan Martin has done nothing new, unusual or unreasonable. If their is anything controversial about the story it is that the rather spiteful comments come from Stephen Roche, a cycling legend and a member of Martin's own family. That he was stating the bleedin' obvious is less so.
For decades now athletes who have the option have frequently selected the nationality that offers them the best career opportunities. England's cricket teams have relied for decades on players who may be British by passport but South African by accent. Jack Charlton's 'plastic paddy' world cup squads on the 90's was almost as overt in its willingness to embrace players with tenuous connections (or none in the case of Tony Cascarino). In cycling Britain happily embraced the likes of Michael Wright, a Belgian who had to take English classes so he could talk to his team mates. And of course Chris Froome is probably is a current case from Martin's own sport.
Increasingly the notion of Nationality is going to be hard to pin down. There was the case a few years ago when the much of the British team at the cycling road race world championship followed their trade team loyalties and rode in support of the Italians rather than doing their plucky best for the home grown also ran. The best footballers from around the world are coached and developed by European Clubs whether they are African, Korean or even Brazilian. And they are playing alongside each other every week. Globalisation both of the labour market and of sport will increasingly mean athletes will be able to choose their nation, and national differences between sports will narrow.
In this environment there will be a hierarchy of national teams across a sport. Of course there will always be sports people who feel such a strong national allegiance that even if offered the option they could not represent any other nation. But plenty will simply go for the best offer, which normally boils down to 'which is the best squad I have a decent chance of getting into.' And why not. These are professional athletes. In opting for Ireland Dan Martin has done nothing new, unusual or unreasonable. If their is anything controversial about the story it is that the rather spiteful comments come from Stephen Roche, a cycling legend and a member of Martin's own family. That he was stating the bleedin' obvious is less so.
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