Watching the graceful figure skating pairs in the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics on Sunday, I was struck by one couple in particular: Alexander Smirnov and Yuko Kavaguti of Russia. Their skating was among the best, but what caught my attention was the announcer's note that Kavaguti had given up her Japanese citizenship for Russian citizenship.
Now, why would anyone in her right mind do that? Why give up the rights and protections of a peaceable democracy, and the cultural comforts of living among her own homogeneous people, for the uncertainties of Vladimir Putin's increasingly authoritarian and undemocratic Russia?
Of course, it was because of the Olympic dream, the strength of Russian coaching, the tradition of Russian skating medals and the desire to stick with partner Smirnov. But it seems a high price for this young woman to pay.
Kavaguti is not the only ambitious athlete who competes in the winter or summer Olympics for a country that properly should not be considered his or her own. I remember how Zola Budd, seizing upon some long-gone grandfather or great-grandfather, got around sanctions on South Africa during the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics by running for Britain. There's a mogul skier in Vancouver now who was born there but skis for Australia, much to the grumbling of Canadians.
The Olympics, designed around nationalism, truly are transnational in encouraging athletes to abandon their own flag and rally around the standard of whatever nation will better help them to make it to the starting gate or the starting line. It all sounds very cynical and opportunistic, but that is the power of Olympic medals and their lure to fame and glory.Citizenship lost can be regained, if the abandoned country will accept the apostate back. And in Kavaguti's case, in my opinion, Russia won't have her forever. I'd venture that once her skating career is over, she will apply to reinstate her Japanese citizenship.