> "Buying-in" of Athletes...!!!

Ok the Doha Asian Games with full bang.....There is no doubt the Doha Games has been a big success. The facilities are well designed, the infrastructure works – Qatar has proved that an Arab nation can successfully host the second biggest (behind the Olympics) sporting event in the World...But there are some questions being raised.....especially abt the Buying-in of Athletes....ya by Qatar and Bahrain...

I guess Asain Games are meant to be for Asian Countriers but it wasnt .....coz 40 young Kenyans were representing Gulf states of Qatar and Bahrain....Ya tats true & sad too....
There were 4 men’s long-distance running events at the weekend and 10 of the 18 medals went to Kenyan born athletes....wich indirectly went to Qatar and Bahrain....
And they are being paid huge.....frm getting just few dollars in their homeland...some of them are getting(allegedly) a million dollars each....

The defections to the Gulf states of Qatar and Bahrain started over 3 years ago, and are well publicised (9 Kenyans each have defected to Qatar and Bahrain) - none of which stops it from just being plain wrong.One or two athletes defecting to another country is fine - especially if the move is a result of persecution at home – or poor facilities – or marriage.But this is just too ‘in your face’ to see so many africans running in an Asian Games.In the final 20 laps of the 10,000 meters the ppl were treated to the sight of 4 Kenyans (2 Qataris, 2 Bahrainis) running an entirely separate race to the Asians over a lap behind them.....

Names have been changed (3000m winner Dennis Keter is now Salem Mubarak, 10,000 m winner, AKA Mahboob Hasan); bank balances have been altered but it’s painfully clear for all to see that these Massai Marah tribesmen from the plains of Kenya are designed to lope on their long legs for days on end, whereas the shorter more stubby Asians on display, are not.

Of course you ask the Kenyan fans and they say “It’s great that the Kenyans can display their skills throughout the world, It doesn’t matter who they run for – more glory to Kenya”.

The Bahrain & Qatar coaches don’t even acknowledge the word Kenya. “These men are Bahrainis/Qataris” – they say. And the athletes peddle out their favourite line – “I am proud for the nation of Bahrain/Qatar.”

That’s all very well but how would they feel if they were the Asian runners who should, legitimately have won the medals? PT Usha is the coach of 6th placed Indian runner, Surendra Kumar Singh and she points out, “This is the Asian Games – not the African Games – This is a a Joke”.

And you can she what she means, especially when you learn that all these athletes actually train back in their homeland (Salem Mubarak only arrived from Kenya on Wednesday) – and have made no effort, in most cases, to learn the language or assimilate into the culture.

Their main supporters though are Kenyans themselves – Moses Kiptanui who held the 3000 meter world record until 2003 says, “I have won more than 5 medals, but I have got zero from the Government, no-one knows who I am or what I did. We have seen a lot of athletes from the ‘68 or ‘72 Olympics who are living in a very sparse state. They are very poor – despite the fact that they have done great things for their country.”

Most of these young men were, says Kiptanui, earning less than $5 US a week – Now they are paid a thousand a month just to train and compete (plus that one million welcome, in a few cases).

All that may very well be true – but if everyone’s OK with African athletes winning at the Asian Games – then why don’t we just call it ‘The Games’ and be done with it.


The buying of World-class athletes is an extension of this. More winners – more world-wide recognition for Qatar. Good for them, bad for everyone else in Asia and the IOC (International Olympic Committee) must change the rules before its too late.

“What is bad is countries or organizations wanting to buy athletes just for the money” said Jacques Rogge, President of the IOC, back in 2004. “This is something that we should try to put into control.”

Do it! Before it’s too late and the concept of ‘country’ means absolutely nothing.

"Buying-in" of Athletes

I dont see anything wrong with this....

The Africans are very good atheletes and if they can make a money by representing some rich Arab countries, what is wrong ??

They deserve some reward for all their efforts and talent. They would have got that if not for the Arab states.

Also, the Arab states give them better facilities and everything......

feel good for the athletes but bad for the sport.. not unless they assimilate themselves with the culture there would they be called true qataris.. but then this is the way to go i guess..

yeah why not ? just like buying Bill Gates to represent our own Infosys

Migration of sportsmen from various fields for 'Greener Pastures' is a age old phenomenon. Recently the migration of Cricketers from SA/Zimbabwe to Australia/England a case in point.

So nothing surprising, just like professionals migrate for better job opportunities/perks/pay/lifestyle, there is no reason why sportsmen should not do the same.

Of course there would be those who would take pride in representing their country irrespective of other factors - but then numbers of such folks is getting lesser by the day.

Hardly recent m8
you forgot Greame Hick or what?

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The reasonable man adapts himself to the world;
the unreasonable man persists in trying to adapt the world to himself.
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actually India is also involed in this. They did not pursued bying in but call in .

Two indian born American swimmers represented India, and Shikha Oberoi Tennis player is also an Import.

So its been a long follwed tradition and cant be stopped.

there are a lot of European countries and USA too have imported chess wizards from erstwhile soviet nations to see themselves on the winning lists.

you also forgot Kevin Petersen but he went off on his own ..