Osaka Naomi is a 20 year old tennis player who has a Japanese mother and an American father from Haiti. She won the U.S open in 2018. She was born in Japan and her family moved to Florida when she was 3 years old. She could have played tennis as an American player, but she didn't do it. She plays tennis as a Japanese player. I have heard it is because she wants to compete in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. There are many strong tennis players in the U.S, so she thinks it will be easier for her to be chosen as the Olympics representative in Japan than in the U.S.
There are some people who say that Naomi should not play tennis as a Japanese player because she has lived in America for a long time and can't speak Japanese, and that she just wants to compete in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. It is easy to decide which country you belong to, if your parents have the same nationality and you have lived together with them in the country that you were born in for a long time. But if not, such as Naomi, it is difficult. What do you think decides which country you belong to?
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Hello, Mr.Robinoz. Thank you for sharing your view. If I met her for the first time and she couldn't speak Japanese, I would think she is non-Japanese. Of course, it's up to her to decide which country. I respect her choice and I am glad of it.
Citizenship determines which country we belong to. I was born in Australia, so I automatically have Australian citizenship. Some people have dual citizenship. In Australia, there are millions of people who have immigrated from other countries who have become Australian citizens and also keep the citizenship of their country of birth.
Some countries allow dual citizenship and others don't.
I think if I had been born in Australia but spent most of my life in another country, I would probably refer to myself as a citizen of the other country, born in Australia.
Do you think Ms Naomi is an Americal citizen? Or is she a citizen of Japan living in America?
Whatever she considers herself to be, either an Americal or a Japanese, if she has the option to choose, then it's up to her to decide what she wants to do.
I did note that soon after her tennis win, she became an ambassador for Citizen Watches which is a Japanese watch company. When you are famous, everyone wants to know you.
Hi, Rosemary. Thank you for sharing your view. I respect her choice and I am glad of it. I agree with your last sentences. That makes our character and identity.
Hi, O.M. Thank you for sharing your view. I don't agree with "We are all free to choose which country to live as well as to belong.". Most people can't choose it, can they? There are many people who can't move to other countries, aren't there?
Hi, Zivi. Yes, general sports are for fun and no matter what their nationalities are, but world conferences such as Olympics Games and Word Cup are not only that. Athletes in them represent a nation. They are burdened with a strong national expectation.
Hello, Rose. Thank you for sharing your view. I think when we think our natonality, there are two ways. One is on paper, another is identity.
The attitude of the tennis player that you have mentioned above is related to her need to get an easy way to success. So , she is doing anything to get the trophy . It seems that she doesn't care what flag , she will left over her head . The question is ? It seems to be ligimate to represent Japan ? And the US at the same way .
Patriotism isn't about where you were born or where you are originally from . It's a long constructed emotions related to what language do we speak , belives , food , clothing and more other things .
Hi TAM, as I see it, finally even Olympic games is sports, done by ppl, not by nations. even of it comes to team sports, I think it doesn´t matter what nationality the sportsppl are. Important is how they do their sports. Why then should we seperate into nations rather than enjoy the sport or the performance. Just as to find out that the one Nation is prior to another one? Just as to blame each other for doping? Or just to do doping because the national pride has to be pleased? nah, not in my idea of sports.
We are defined by birth by our ancestors. Our origin doesn't change. We can apply for getting another nationality and we can become a citizen of another country, but it doesn't change what we are. That's my opinion.
We don't belong to a country, but we can say we are a citizen of it.
The Olympic Games are a competition of athletes. They start for their countries.
BUT...unfortunately, the Games are also a business and the athletes are a part of it.
I don't like.
If the athlete has the passport of a country, he can start for it at the Olympic Games.
It's just strange if she/he doesn't speak the language. That let us think she/he starts only for Her/his own benefit.
Hello, Zivi. Thank you for your comment. If we stand by your opinion, Olynpics Games and Word Cup can't be held, because players for them are national contender.
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