Comments on: Puerto Rican Dream Team

Question: Puerto Rican Dream Team

milkman — Sun, 15 Aug 2004 18:13:53 -0800

So the US basketball team got handed it's hide by the Puerto Ricans.

My question, and of course I understand many of the complex issues surrounding the soverignty of the territory, is...why are they allowed to have their own team? I mean, the guys on the PR team that just pummeled the dreamies are all US citizens, right?

What's the rule?

By: Dreama

Dreama — Sun, 15 Aug 2004 18:25:11 -0800

Puerto Ricans are U.S. nationals, but not full citizens. They travel under U.S. passports but they cannot vote for federal offices and have no representation in Congress. The same goes for residents of Guam. Apparently this particular glitchy citizenship status qualifies both islands to be separate entities as far as the Olympics are concerned, and both are fielding their own teams.

By: Zonker

Zonker — Sun, 15 Aug 2004 18:40:56 -0800

Basically, you've got to have your own Olympic Committee, and it has to be recognized by the International Olympic Committee. I don't see any hard and fast rules on that process, but I'm sure it's extremely political. Palestine and Hong Kong are other not-quite-nations with their own Olympic teams. Taiwan (called "Chinese Taipei" in the Olympics) is another example.

By: John Kenneth Fisher

John Kenneth Fisher — Sun, 15 Aug 2004 19:29:28 -0800

okay.... so if Puerto Rico wins a gold.... what anthem do they play?

By: amberglow

amberglow — Sun, 15 Aug 2004 19:33:44 -0800

La Borinqueña

By: ROU_Xenophobe

ROU_Xenophobe — Sun, 15 Aug 2004 19:59:21 -0800

Puerto Ricans are U.S. nationals, but not full citizens. They travel under U.S. passports but they cannot vote for federal offices and have no representation in Congress

That's not really true. AFAIK, Puerto Ricans are citizens or something functionally equivalent if differently-named.

Puerto Ricans can move freely to the US proper, and when they do they get the same voting rights as I have.

Likewise, if I move to Puerto Rico, I won't be able to vote for President or Congress, unless I maintain an at least nominal residency in the US proper.

This sort of thing happens all the time. It's the UK in the Olympics, but in World Cup England, Scotland, and Wales compete separately. US citizens have competed for Spain in swimming, and approximately 104% of the players in Olympic hockey are Canadian citizens.

By: Apoch

Apoch — Sun, 15 Aug 2004 21:53:07 -0800

104%? How is that possible?

By: coolgeek

coolgeek — Sun, 15 Aug 2004 21:57:20 -0800

It's a joke, son.

By: biffa

biffa — Mon, 16 Aug 2004 03:15:28 -0800

It's the UK in the Olympics, but in World Cup England, Scotland, and Wales compete separately.

It's GB in the olympics, not the UK, but you're talking about different sports. There is no GB football team at the olympics, as football in the UK is divided into the four home nations and none will risk the use of a consolidated team being entered to avoid any potentail for FIFA to force them to do so in future.

By: thomcatspike

thomcatspike — Mon, 16 Aug 2004 11:56:14 -0800

they get the same voting rights as I have.
Puerto Ricans
Iirc, they are represented in the Presidential Primaries.

By: thomcatspike

thomcatspike — Mon, 16 Aug 2004 12:01:42 -0800

US citizens have competed for Spain in swimming
??? Seen where a person knew they would not make a national team then added or changed citizenship prior to Olympic completion. It sounded like you meant a person whom is solely a US citizen could compete on another team too.

By: thomcatspike

thomcatspike — Mon, 16 Aug 2004 12:02:42 -0800

Olympic competition

By: thomcatspike

thomcatspike — Mon, 16 Aug 2004 12:07:13 -0800

Puerto Ricans can move freely to the US proper, and when they do
Cough!...[accepts the gold medal boob award]

By: Songdog

Songdog — Mon, 16 Aug 2004 12:50:38 -0800

I believe I spotted a US Virgin Islands delegation during the Parade of Nations, too.

By: John Kenneth Fisher

John Kenneth Fisher — Tue, 17 Aug 2004 08:24:08 -0800

Slate article on this very question