Russian, South African and US athletes get rushed Australian citizenships ahead of 2024 Olympics

[sl8]

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/oct/20/russian-south-african-and-us-athletes-get-rushed-australian-citizenships-ahead-of-2024-olympics

Russian, South African and US athletes get rushed Australian citizenships ahead of 2024 Olympics

Exclusive: Government fast-tracked applications of canoeist, wrestler and water polo player backed by AOC

Henry Belot
Fri 20 Oct 2023 00.02 EDT

The Australian government has fast-tracked the citizenship of three athletes from South Africa, Russia and the US, in an effort to boost the nation’s chances of winning gold medals at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

With the support of the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC), South African canoeist Pierre Van der Westhuyzen, Russian wrestler Georgii Okorokov and US water polo player Sam Slobodien, will receive citizenships ahead of the games after having their applications fast-tracked.

The immigration minister, Andrew Giles, used ministerial discretion to intervene and grant citizenship to Van der Westhuyzen, who has only been in Australia since January 2020.

“The applicant is engaged in a sport at an elite level and, if an Australian citizen, may be selected to represent Australia at the Paris 2014 Summer Olympic Games,” Giles wrote in a note to parliament explaining his decision to intervene.

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[snowybirdie]

1. Doesn't this defeat

The spirit of the Olympics? Bringing in "ringers" from other nations really isn't a true test of a country's athletic abilities. Win at any cost, I guess.

[AllaN01Bear]

2. when the pros were allowed in, that ruined the original spirit of the games.