Pros
There are some perceived benefits in having an open policy for the National Championship events:
- The addition of athletes from other countries adds to the competitive spirit of events.
- Participation by foreign skaters increases the number of competitors.
- Allowing world-level skaters to participate in lower domestic events will have a long-term effect of upgrading the quality of USARS skating.
- An increase in participant numbers and quality of skating may help efforts for Olympic participation.
Cons
In other sports either citizenship and/or a single national affiliation within a sport and season is required for National Championship event participation:
- If your passion is dance, USA Dance National eligibility requirements include USA residency or citizenship. Athletes are not allowed to have represented another country or have competed in another country's national championships within the last eight months unless a letter of release has been received from their original country allowing them to dance in the USA. And athletes must have competed in at least one USA Dance National Qualifying Event within the twelve month period before the national competition.
- USA Triathlon competitors must meet the USAT eligibility requirements which include athletes who are current U.S. citizens or U.S. nationals - someone who has resided in the US for three consecutive years and has not competed for their country of citizenship in the prior year.
- Current USTA junior tennis players must hold an American passport and have not represented any other country during the period of 36 months immediately preceding the event.
- NPC National Bodybuilding and Figure Championships require that each contestant must be a U.S. citizen to enter the event and proof must be provided in the form of a copy of birth certificate, voter registration, passport, or military discharge papers.
- Chess players must adhere to United States Chess Federation requirements which include proof of permanent U.S. residency, a written promise that they will apply for U.S. citizenship as soon as legally possible and must refuse to represent other countries within a specified period of time. Playing for another country requires a candidate to begin the waiting period again. Representing another country is defined as playing in the national championship of another country, and/or playing as a member of another country's national team in international competition.
Where It Stands
Many agree that local, state and invitational events should be open to every qualified athlete who is living, visiting or training in that country or region. The cross-pollination offered by these competitive opportunities will help everyone's development regardless of affiliation or citizenship.
But, each country's National Championship should be open only to those registered athletes who have been citizens or permanent residents of that country for the complete season in question, and those athletes should compete in only one National Championship in a specific sport discipline per season. If an athlete competes in a National Qualifier tournament (or other event leading to a National Championship) in one country, he or she can not compete in National Qualifier tournaments or National Championships for another country in the same season or for a specified amount of time.
Whether an athlete is a citizen or resident is not a big issue, but the country that a National Champion represents is being questioned by many loyal USARS athletes, coaches and families. Please feel free to discuss this issue, add pro or con information and express your views in the Inlineskating Forum.
