Pairs & Dance Teams with Citizenship Issues

[Weathergal]

I thought Agafonova/Ucar competed in 2014, so Alisa must already have citizenship.

^ They did. They placed 22nd in Sochi, so they're all good for citizenship.

Isn't Gamelin American? The guy from the other Korean dance team is Russian, I think.

My understanding / what I've heard:

S/M - Bruno needs to place a language test to get citizenship, last I heard he'd taken it but didn't have the results yet.
C/T - They can't get it for next year, they said on the Ice Network podcast that they're trying for 2022 to get Mervin US citizenship.
S/BA - My understanding is there's no chance, especially not for 2018.
A/W - I believe there's a pretty good shot of her getting it, especially with the JWGM, apparently Australia isn't super strict for these types of things I've heard.
I/M - Like Australia, Canada isn't super strict about citizenship for these things, it's expected she'll probably get it from what I've heard.

H/K and S/D - Their real issue isn't citizenship, which apparently they would likely be able to get. Both Kirill and Olivia competed too recently for another country, so they'd have to get IOC and ISU permission to be eligible (don't know exactly what the process is).
T/T - not sure
M/G - I think they'll be fine. I hear South Korea really wants lots of athletes for their home Games (understandably), so they're being pretty liberal with giving citizenship.
A/U - Competed in Sochi.
M/C - no idea
L/LG - Not really sure, but I think I read somewhere that she's likely to get it (?)

Also: Laurence Fournier Beaudry / Nikolaj Sørensen - She's Canadian, they skate for Denmark. Apparently Denmark is really strict similarly to Japan, so they don't think it's likely, but they are still trying

Yes Alex Gamelin is American.

Thank you so much to everyone for the information--and the corrections!

I updated the OP to reflect that Agafanova / Ucar already have citizenship and that Gamelin is American not Russian. I knew Minov was Russian, and I think my brain somehow transferred that to Gamelin as well! (So sad that Rebecca Kim / Kirill Minov not competing anymore because of his injuries. I really enjoyed that team. I believe she's looking for another partner.)

I can't believe I forgot about Fournier Beaudry / Sorenson - I knew I missing a Top 10 couple, and I just couldn't think who it was. I had even read an interview with them discussing their heartbreak at knowing most likely they won't be able to go to the Olympics! What a shame as this pair has been improving so much (a shame for any competitor really who'd be able to go otherwise!).

I'm also interested to see how the thread has evolved into a general citizenship discussion and what the idea of changing your citizenship to compete means to different people. I always wondered what I'd do in that situation. It seems like a very radical step, especially if you can't maintain dual citizenship with your original country, and I'm sure it's a decision most don't take lightly. I admire those who have such dedication to their sport.

 

[Ice Dance]

I can't believe I forgot about Fournier Beaudry / Sorenson - I knew I missing a Top 10 couple, and I just couldn't think who it was.

Technically, they are a Top 13 couple. F-B&S have never finished Top 10 at Worlds. Their highest finish was 11th in 2015. But they are a team that qualified an automatic berth to the Olympics and, of course, they have no real competition at home so it is a real shame that they will not be able to compete for Denmark. Even more of a shame that there seems to be no avenue for them to work their way toward the same goal four years down the road (without switching to Canadian citizenship, which actually . . . they might want to consider when one looks at the state of Canadian dance for the future).

 

[SnowWhite]

Fournier Beaudry / Sorenson talk about the citizenship issue in this interview: http://www.insideskating.net/2017/0...nikolaj-sorensen-were-in-it-for-the-long-haul

So aren’t there even the slimmest chances for you to get it in time for Pyeongchang?

Laurence: No. So we’re skating only for Europeans and Worlds, that’s why these two competitions matter a lot for us, and it’s where we have the most fun, cause that’s our goal for the year. And it’s just very… bad that there is no way [to get the citizenship].

Nikolaj: We’re trying to say that maybe it can happen. Our goal is to be top in the world, and so if we ever make it to the top in the world, and get some media attention in Denmark, hopefully it could spark some things: Listen, we have a team that could… potentially, maybe not medal…, but, you know, if we’re Top 5 in the world… that would be a really good placement for Denmark in the Olympics – and this could be something that maybe spark some people to make different decisions. Because it has been one of the strictest countries in the world to get passport.

So let me get this straight: on a long term, you wanna create some attention for the next Olympics.

Nikolaj: Yes, the one in 2022.

Cause this one is clearly…

Nikolaj: This one is out of the question. It’s not going to happen.

I have always been OK with only doing Europeans and Worlds, and I have always known that I’m most likely not gonna find a Danish partner, and getting Danish passport is next to impossible, but every since Laurence came into my life, and we really started showing great results, it’s more and more upsetting,

 

[cinuka]

Fournier Beaudry / Sorenson talk about the citizenship issue in this interview: http://www.insideskating.net/2017/0...nikolaj-sorensen-were-in-it-for-the-long-haul

:sad4: How does one get a Danish passport?

 

[4everchan]

:sad4: How does one get a Danish passport?

they probably would need to spend more time there, train there, perhaps she needs to speak the language....

 

[Ice Dance]

:sad4: How does one get a Danish passport?

I'm sure there is a lot to the citizenship process; but I believe--in this case--the major issue is that they would have to live in Denmark. And they can't because there are no top dance coaches in Denmark.

 

[cathlen]

My understanding from interview is that they will try to convince Denmark goverment by the result they achieve. That they are top contenders in Ice Dance, so it's worthwhile to grant Laurence a citizenship on special conditions. But I guess learning some Danish and history and whatever else needed for normal procedure wouldn't hurt either. But first they need to get better results, because apparently, the ones they achieve so far, are not enough.

Seeing their troubles, I'm so glad Maks Spodyriev received citizenship last year already....

 

[tzazu]

I was just watching the BBC's coverage of the Free Dance from Worlds, and when Olivia Smart and Adrià Díaz were on, they started discussing the citizenship thing.

Robin Cousins explained that for normal events, one person from the partnership had to be a passport holder, whereas for the Olympics, both have to be. So Kat Downes asked whether Olivia would be able to get a Spanish passport in time. Robin admitted that he doesn't know if Spain has any requirements that you have to be resident in the country for a certain amount of time, or whether they would be willing to give her one regardless so that she could represent them in the Olympics.

But, then he added that in the UK, the requirement is that you have to be resident for 5 years before you can get a passport. And that in Pairs, Chris Boyadji will fall short of that requirement by 4 months.

:gaah:

CaroLiza_fan

I don't know how the rules about Citizenship are in Spain, but in an interview last year, Olivia answered that question, and she looked quite positive about the topic:
http://pinkladiesskating.blogspot.com.es/2016/07/interview-to-olivia-smart-and-adria.html

"To compete in the Olympics you need Spanish nationality. What about that issue?
Yes I will need Spanish citizenship to compete at the Olympics, and that is what we both hope for within the next season."

 

[cathlen]

Laurence is learning hard Danish! https://www.facebook.com/LaurenceNi...830618328316/1229494120495291/?type=3&theater Good luck! Hope it helps

 

[Barb]

I don't know how the rules about Citizenship are in Spain, but in an interview last year, Olivia answered that question, and she looked quite positive about the topic:
http://pinkladiesskating.blogspot.com.es/2016/07/interview-to-olivia-smart-and-adria.html

"To compete in the Olympics you need Spanish nationality. What about that issue?
Yes I will need Spanish citizenship to compete at the Olympics, and that is what we both hope for within the next season."

The problem is that apparently the IOC says that a competitor can´t represent other country in the olympics before 3 years of the last competition with other country.
Olivia Smart skated for the last time representing her country (England) with Joseph Buckland at the 2015 World Championship (March)
Kirill Khaliavin skated for the last time representing Russia with Ksenia Monko at the 2015 Worlds (March)
Olympics are in february :sad21:

 

[Mattieu]

The problem is that apparently the IOC says that a competitor can´t represent other country in the olympics before 3 years of the last competition with other country.
Olivia Smart skated for the last time representing her country (England) with Joseph Buckland at the 2015 World Championship (March)
Kirill Khaliavin skated for the last time representing Russia with Ksenia Monko at the 2015 Worlds (March)
Olympics are in february :sad21:

The Spanish federation can negotiate with the Olympic committee according to the Olympic charter. It could be the Olympic committee will be prepared to let them compete if the Spanish fed present a good case, as it is only a month short of the 3 years.

 

[NicolettaL]

There is also a Polish ID couple - Justyna Plutowska and Jeremie Flemin (FRA) I don't know what is their situation with citizenship, but the problem is another. Polish Fed is backing up Kaliszek/Spodirev duo (he is from UKR but has the pasport since 2015) so I'm worried that there will be no competition for the Oly spot here.

 

[ejnsofi]

There is also a Polish ID couple - Justyna Plutowska and Jeremie Flemin (FRA) I don't know what is their situation with citizenship, but the problem is another. Polish Fed is backing up Kaliszek/Spodirev duo (he is from UKR but has the pasport since 2015) so I'm worried that there will be no competition for the Oly spot here.

I think there would be no citizenship issue as in the past our government granted some "last minute" citizenship for talented athletes and if Plutowska/Flemin qualified for Olympics Jeremie would probably get Polish one. Also I think our Fed is backing up K/S as they have better results.

 

[NicolettaL]

I think there would be no citizenship issue as in the past our government granted some "last minute" citizenship for talented athletes and if Plutowska/Flemin qualified for Olympics Jeremie would probably get Polish one. Also I think our Fed is backing up K/S as they have better results.

Yes and no. Natalia's father has a lot to say, and it's just that everyone is so sure that K/S will go that im starting to think will it even be a competition for that spot?
Or even If they will win Nats K/S will go anyway.

 

[ejnsofi]

Yes and no. Natalia's father has a lot to say, and it's just that everyone is so sure that K/S will go that im starting to think will it even be a competition for that spot?
Or even If they will win Nats K/S will go anyway.

Why shouldn't be they so sure? K/S are 3 times Polish National Champions, their results are better and better every year, they got invited to GP Series again, their foxtrot became a pattern dance and in fact they had better result in Nepela Memorial than P/F. It's reasonable to say that right now K/S are leading Polish ID team and their eventual qualification will be based on their results not on Polish Fed personal preferences

 

[Sabrina]

I understand Germany doesn't allow dual citizenship, so Bruno Massot should give up his French citizenship in exchange for a German one...weird rules

 

[maya1985]

I understand Germany doesn't allow dual citizenship, so Bruno Massot should give up his French citizenship in exchange for a German one...weird rules

Germany doesn't allow dual citizenship except for citizens of the countries of the European Union . Logically, Massot could have both passports (French and German)

 

[Anni234]

Germany doesn't allow dual citizenship except for citizens of the countries of the European Union . Logically, Massot could have both passports (French and German)

Are you sure? Because my bf holds both German and US citizenship. But then again he has them both since birth, maybe this only applies to naturalised citizens?
Also in some countries dual citizenship isn't technically allowed, but nobody can really do anything if you have 2, since under normal circumstances your birth-citizenship cannot be taken away.

 

[ejnsofi]

Are you sure? Because my bf holds both German and US citizenship. But then again he has them both since birth, maybe this only applies to naturalised citizens?
Also in some countries dual citizenship isn't technically allowed, but nobody can really do anything if you have 2, since under normal circumstances your birth-citizenship cannot be taken away.

The rule of only one citizenship in Germany applies only to naturalised citizens
Actually it can be taken away. I think in Japan you have to give up citizenship acquired at birth during naturalisation process. Yuko Kavaguti had to give up hers when she became Russian naturalised citizen (she can reapply for her Japanese citizenship after 10 years I guess)

 

[shmay]

Word on the (Tel Aviv) street is that there's some citizenship tug of war going on between Tkachenko and Israel's interior ministry.

The good news for Ilia is that our Minister of the Interior is an ex-convict who loves cash payments, so as long as Tobias' family coughs up the bribe money, a Jewish grandparent and a passport will materialize out of nowhere for Tkachenko and they'll be in Korea.