Rogge's mercenary concern
IOC president Jacques Rogge has criticised athletes swapping nationality purely for money.
Last Updated: 14/03/12 4:53pm
IOC president Jacques Rogge has criticised athletes swapping nationality purely for money but admits he is powerless to stop them.
The row over 'Plastic Brits' - an influx of foreign athletes opting to represent Britain ahead of the London 2012 Games - has led to Olympics minister Hugh Robertson saying all Team GB members should know the national anthem.
Rogge conceded that some athletes changed nationality for monetary gain alone but that there were legitimate reasons for others to do so - including the most high-profile case of American-born hurdler Tiffany Porter, who has a British mother, choosing to represent Team GB.
"The athletes from other countries who just switch allegiance for money reasons you can't stop it but we don't like it," Rogge told a news conference in Lausanne.
"I understand the fully legitimate reasons like study, work, marriage or family reasons.
"The issue of the athletes of the poor countries who get absolutely no support you can understand. Maybe you don't love it but you can understand it."
Controversy
Asked about the 'Plastic Brits' controversy - Porter was challenged by a reporter to sing or speak the national anthem last week after being named as captain of the British team for the world indoor athletics championships - Rogge said he was not expressing reservations about a particular case.
He added: "I believe that the athlete you are speaking about has a mother or a father who is of British nationality, so maybe there is already then a good reason to switch nationality.
"But I am not referring to that specific case because I believe there is a family factor."
Other athletes drafted into the British team include Cuban-born triple jumper Yamile Aldama, USA's 400m runner Shana Cox and long jumper Shara Proctor of Anguilla.
Two Ukrainian women who had hoped to be named as part of the British wrestling team recently learned their applications are unlikely to be approved by the Government.
