Somalian Immigrant steals gold

[pa___ul3]

Great to see Mo Farah winning gold for Britain in the 5000 metres. Yesterday morning I ran 5k in 21 mins, Mo finished his in 13 mins 23!! All this from a guy who came to Britain as an 8 year old barely speaking a word of English.
Apparently he was struggling academically in school and it wasn't until his PE teacher took him under his wing that he was given the focus he needed.

People don't generally consider PE to be a 'proper' school subject but this is an example of how if used correctly, it can bring the best out of a subject.

We see in the USA with sports scholarships that they have to pass academic exams as well before they'll be accepted.

With obesity supposedly becoming endemic of British youths, do you think sport in schools should be given more importance, not only as a means of creating a fitter, sportier, generation but to give focus and confidence to, let's say, more unruly children?

[sp1814]

joeluke

Perhaps I can explain it for you.

Mo was born in 1983, and came to Britain in 1991 - 20 years ago. Therefore, there's a very good chance that he views himself as a British athlete.

If he competed for Somalia, after receiving all his training and funding from the UK, wouldn't you think that a little 'cheeky'.

Is what I'm saying really that strange? I honestly can't understand why you'd think he'd compete for Somalia. Please let us into your thoug processes?

Who else should be disallowed for competing for team GB?

[joeluke]

'Who else should be disallowed for competing for team GB?'

How about anyone else not born in GB

......and that also goes for footballers, cricketers etc

[carrust]

The words thought & process don't compute in Joelukes brain.......

[DTCwordfan]

He won more Gold than Gordon Brown left in the vault.

Well done Mo and all the best for next year

and to the Rowing teams as well - a very solid performance that augurs well

[sp1814]

joeluke

Think that through for a moment...

Yeah - I bet you've now come to the same conclusion as the rest of us. If you haven't - give yourself another 15 minutes for the 'lightbulb moment'.

[joeluke]

sp.....a person should represent the country of their birth

What's so wrong about that?

[sp1814]

joeluke

That's ridiculous. Really, really, really ridiculous.

The fact that you've actually posted that, and you believe that...is outstanding.

[Old_Geezer]

I don't see how that is ridiculous. What is difficult to understand is why a coutry is allowed to claim folk from other nations to represent them. Surely that ruins the whole concept of one country competing against another. May as well give it up and just allow competitors to just represent themselves.

[pa___ul3]

Mo's dad was born in Britain and grew up in Hounslow, he was on holiday in Somalia when he met Mo's mum.

[joeluke]

Still doesn't make him English though does it?

You're English if you're born here......otherwise you're not, regardless of how many silly little rules they invent to allow foreigners to represent us

[boxtops]

No, you're not. You can acquire British nationality by applying for it. I know several people who have done this and are now upright members of British communities. You can apply to become a naturalised British national if you have lived here five years http://www.ukba.homeo...izenship/eligibility/

Birth is not the only criteria, I have a friend who was born in Germany to British parents serving in Germany, he has joint British and German nationality.

[joeluke]

'You can acquire British nationality by applying for it'

Like I said 'silly little rules they invent' to allow foreigners to pretend they're English

[boxtops]

Not worth discussing any more, JL, you've obviously made up your mind.

[pa___ul3]

So JL, does that mean if I'd have been born while my parents had been on holiday in Spain I'd cease to be English?
How would that then work when you see a ferry load of heavily pregnant Eastern Europeans pulling into Dover? Think that would slap your lil rule in the face!!