Puerto Rico in the Olympics
Posted August 16th, 2004 @ 08:32am by Erik J. Barzeski
I must have really misunderstood the relationship between the United States of America and Puerto Rico. How in the heck can they have their own Olympic team? Aren't they a territory of the United States? Shouldn't they be competing for the US team? Their independence day is July 4, 1776 (gee, that's the same as ours!) and their constitution became effective March 4, 1789 (hey, a pattern!). Their chief of state and head of government is, hey wait a second, George W. Bush, since January 20, 2001? I didn't know he could govern other independent countries on the side! No fair! Maybe that's what he was doing during all that "vacationing."
But seriously, why does Puerto Rico get to compete separately in the Olympics?
For what it's worth, I'm glad the lameass NBA team we now field for the Olympics got their asses handed to them by a team whose entire population could - and does - fit on a small island.
Donate Life
Posted 16 Aug 2004 at 8:51am #
It's not that simple.
Posted 16 Aug 2004 at 9:01am #
Regarding the post by Peter:
It sounds to me like it is better to be a Territory. Just think of all the lives that would have been saved if the states in the southern part of the United States of America had just become territories instead of succeeding from the Union. They would have gotten their States Rights and the Feds would have left them alone!
Posted 16 Aug 2004 at 9:51am #
What a hoot! I used that exact argument when I heard that PR beat the US (to annoy a guy that was pissed that PR lost I told him "what really sucks is that the US lost at their own sport against a team that should not have been there at all). And yes, I was born, raised and educated there and I still think the team is illegal. The truth of the matter is that PR is not 100% self-governed and should not have representation in the Olympics unless it is as part of the US delegation.
Before the pro-independence and pro-commonwealth factions of the island get pissed at me, think of this: PR does not have a president, it has a governor. The head of state is the President of the United States, period.
That said, it is all good. It was only a matter of time before the "dream team" slacked off at the same time that other countries took it more seriously and decided to take a serious stab at winning.
Posted 16 Aug 2004 at 10:37am #
I had the same reaction, when I surfed into the middle of the USA-PUR men's basketball game. First thought was "who the hell is PUR?" - then a close-up of the jersey showed it was Puerto Rico. WTF? That's a US territory... How does THAT happen?
Then, at the end, one of the PUR players was being rather jingoistic with his jersey, waving and thrusting it at the (other) American team. I'm guessing there's a larger story at play here...
It was refreshing, though, to see a US men's basketball team that wasn't roughly equivalent to the roster of the Lakers...
Posted 14 Sep 2009 at 4:12pm #
And after doing that he got degraded and sent to play in Israel after he played in the NBA for a year his name is Carlos Arroyo
Posted 16 Aug 2004 at 10:48am #
The IOC doesn't use the standard of the US State Department when it assigns delegations. Palestine is a part of Israel—and at this rate, it may stay that way forever—but it's got a delegation at the Olympics. Guam is an unincorporated territory of the United States, but it's got a delegation. In 1992, the athletes of the recently-disbanded USSR, all from different countries, competed under the flag of a unified team. In 2008, athletes from the two Koreas will compete together under their unified peninsular flag. (They marched under the peninsular flag at the opening ceremonies Friday night, but they compete on separate teams this time around.) Taiwan is in the games, but they compete under a different flag and name: Chinese Taipei. The IOC recognizes Taiwan as a province of China. (Of course, so does the US, but you get my point.)
The Olympics are about sports. They're not the UN. They're not an institution of international law. Saying things like "I still think the team is illegal" just doesn't make any sense to me.
Posted 16 Aug 2004 at 5:32pm #
So Puerto Rico beat the USA's "Dream Team"
WTF is the big deal? For starters, people (myself included) want to question the validity of Puerto Rico even having its own olympic delegation. See, the problem here is political: Puerto Rico is not a 100% independent political entity, so we do not be...
Posted 16 Aug 2004 at 5:48pm #
"...George W. Bush, since January 20, 2001? I didn't know he could govern other independent countries on the side!..."
But isn't that exactly what he's doing with Iraq 😉
SCNR
Posted 16 Aug 2004 at 8:27pm #
Hmmmm, I was so happy that we got our ass kicked, and deservedly so (see my blog - http://sethellsworth.blogstop.com), that I didn't even stop to think about the fact that PR is part of the U.S.! How strange? Oh well, like I said, I'm just glad someone knocked off the cocky "Dream Team." They almost blew it in 2000 and were way too cocky then.
Posted 16 Aug 2004 at 8:31pm #
I'm glad the lameass NBA team we now field for the Olympics got their asses handed to them by a team whose entire population could - and does - fit on a small island.
They don't really fit, I'm sure they're in the other boroughs more than Manhattan.
I'm kidding!
Posted 16 Aug 2004 at 9:33pm #
I agree with Jeff. Besides, if the IOC were to go by the nation as a whole (ie, U.S. encompassing Puerto Rico, Guam, etc.) then you'd be leaving out Canada and Ireland for being commonwealths of Britain, Hong Kong (along with Taiwan (as Chinese Taipei)).
There are not supposed to be politics involved in the Olympics, but this year we've seen it-- the Iranian judo competitor who refused to fight against an Israeli.
Posted 16 Aug 2004 at 11:13pm #
Not just Canada and Ireland, but Australia wouldn't be there. And they're second on the medal tally currently (behind China).
Posted 18 Aug 2004 at 7:26pm #
This whole thing about US vs. Puerto Rico is irrelevant. It's just the Olympics. We have other major issues in the island to worry about other than beating the US. We represent ourselves in the Olympics since the US doesn't want us as a state (can't represent the US) and they don't want to let us become a republic cause they have a bigger investment in the island that most of us will never see or understand. For what is worth, we are americans just like you; the same way we get happy when the Yankees win a World Series, you should at least be happy that americans beat the Dream Team.
Posted 20 Aug 2004 at 11:53pm #
first of all puerto rico itself votes on whether to become a state or not. 3 political parties determine who is governor of the island and each candidate represent constituents who represent 3 different categories as their platform, statehood, commonwealth, and free independent country.
puerto rico is not a state. therefore it represents itself in the olympics, period. puerto rico is not represented in house nor the senate. puerto ricans have no say so on who is president of the united states. nor does the united states have say so on who is governor of puerto rico. puerto ricans do not pay american taxes and prospers from its' own domestic products. they trade directly with other countries and not through american discretion. they support they�re own economy. the national language is spanish; it�s not english. puerto rico has its' own culture. it is not included in american culture. in 1952, a constitution was enacted providing for internal self government. In plebiscites held in 1967, 1993, and 1998, voters chose to retain commonwealth status. on july 25, puerto rico celebrates its own independence day called constitution day. the spanish civil code (yes from spain)is national legislative system. puerto rico has its own house of representatives, own house, every branch of its own government stands separate of the u.s.'
that's why puerto rico stands to represent itself in the olympics. the same applies for other territories. that�s also why puerto rico can run the u.s. off the basketball court instead of playing for them. people should educate themselves before using their own arrogance to show their faulty ignorance in attempting to make a point with no foundation. that's why the world hates us.
p.s. the u.s. lost to puerto ricans not americans.
Posted 24 Aug 2004 at 4:24pm #
This is in response to E. Colon Puerto Rico has not become a state because the stupid puertoricans do not know how to vote all they look at is the color of the political parties if you are popular you only look at the red color and do not look at what is going on behind it and who are the leaders, and then if you are of the new progressive party the blue color ones they are hated and cursed at because they want to become a state. Because during political time in PR nobody looks at the person they only look at the color you are using or have on at that time. And I am not saying this just to say it I lived in PR for 15 years and worked with a political party in 2 different years and I learned alot of the corruption and the lies that go on in the different political parties over in PR. So what PR won one game in the Olympics, but do you see PR in the medal count have PR won anything else in the olympics as an addition to the drug test they should have an alchol test to because I bet the PR team would have been DQ so all I got to say is @@@*$%! PR. I have family who are puertorican and I reject them because thier brain is the size of a peanut like a lot of puertoricans who have not left the island and actually seen what the USA is all about.
Posted 26 Aug 2004 at 9:45am #
Pagan, You're an IDIOT! Politics are politics no matter where they are. Corruption within politic partys are found anywhere you go....yes, even here in the States. So #$%@ YOU, and i hope you don't come back to the islands and if you do....wear a shirt that says #$%@ PR just like you posted..hypocrite!
Posted 26 Aug 2004 at 3:18pm #
Mo and E. Colon have the right idea. Let PR represent themselves. If they want to stay a territory, let them. They can self determine like anyone else. Leave it to them to keep the Dream Team sharp and awake.
Posted 26 Aug 2004 at 4:34pm #
Puerto Rico is a US territory but there are to fluently spoken languages in the island and both are official languages and Puerto Rico is the best mix of culture in a small territory and you all know what they say about perfume, the best come in small bottles, and yes there has being many plebiscites in the island, but the US Congress has the last word and without their commitment on a US Congress directed plebiscite nothing will be final on the island status. As a Puerto Rican, I felt the pride, that we as a unique national and cultural people beat the US Dream Team in their own game in that ancient land of Greece, where the first olympic games where played, no matter what happen next, we made history, yeah we, the Puerto Ricans, the Borinqueneers, Hooah for our team, keep it going my brothers, for all the world to know the heart of our small island nation, Puerto Rico
Posted 26 Aug 2004 at 9:43pm #
By the way, Puerto Rico does not have an independance day, and Gorge w. bush is not the President of PR...Other wise you could vote for the US precidency in Puerto Rico.... Also the laws are totally different... and the Native language is Spanish..... It is part of a common wealth... and a country... Therefore it has the rights to compete on the olympics
Posted 30 Aug 2004 at 4:05pm #
HOW THE HELL YOUR IGNORANT ASS GOIN TO MAKE A COMMENT LIKE THAT ABOUT PUERTO RICO, WE CAN HAVE OUR OWN OLYMPIC TEAM IF WE WANT, THE US DOESNT HAVE ATHORITY OVER OUR GOVERNMENT, FUCKIN IDIOT, LEARN YOUR FUCKIN HISTORY BEFORE YOU SAY STUPID ASS COMMENTS LIKE THAT, AND IF THIS MESSAGE OFFENDS YOU, I EMAIL WAS INSERTED. GO CRY TO YO MAMA.
Posted 02 Sep 2004 at 6:56pm #
AP, Chris, ...,
PR is part of the USA. They are US citizens. B.W.Bush *is* their president. I served with Puerto Ricans and guys from Guam in the *US* Army... and they served as *US Citizens*.
Spanish *is* the prominent language there. True, but it will be for Florida, I am sure, in the next 50 years or so.
Utimately, the US does have authority there. It is the US's territory. They can become a state whenever they feel it is in their best interest.
The differences between a territory and a state really are not that vast. But they are significant enough that Puerto Ricans have not taken that step. I suspect that someday they will. ...or maybe not. Who knows?
Have a nice day.
Posted 02 Sep 2004 at 9:28pm #
Churchill said, (roughly), democracy is the second-worst form of government. The worst form of government is - all other forms of government.
Similarly, you could do worse than be a territory of the US. While not entirely self deterministic, you get a number of significant benefits - in things like social services, defense, capital markets - that are unavailable to nations like Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
Note that Florida doesn't clamor for independence; they recognize that while obeiseance to the US is limiting, the benefits outweigh the costs. PR should recognize the same. Note, also, that the PR gets a lot of benefits from the US without one of the principal burdens - the Federal income tax.
The US isn't perfect, but it's preferable to all other options. This holds for the PR as well as California, Florida, New York, and so on.
Posted 06 Oct 2004 at 4:17pm #
EVERY ONE WHO AGREES THAT PR SHOULD NOT BE REPRESENTED IN THE OLYMPICS BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE PR IS NOT INDEPENDENT MUST NOT HAVE PRIDE IN THEIR COUNTRY, YES COUNTRY. WHAT IS WRONG WITH YA'LL. DON'T YOU HAVE ANY PRIDE, DON'T YOU WANT YOUR COUNTRY TO REPRESENT ITSELF?! LISTEN PR IS PR AND THE U.S. IS THE U.S. THEY WILL NEVER BE ONE. THAT IS WHAT MAKES PR SO BEUTIFUL AND KEEPS IT EXOTIC.
Posted 28 Nov 2004 at 7:12pm #
Well all i can say about all the bs that i read here is that i dont know why you guys are hating so much. Just because we beat the US team and we are puertoricans. I dont get it, why are u guys so jealous of us??? We are small yes i know, but we are big at heart!!!!
Posted 14 Jan 2005 at 12:20pm #
Whoever posted the original comment is completely ignorant. Yes Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of the United States, but we are not a state of the United States. Therefore we are intitled to certain things. Puerto Rico has all every right to have their own team at different sports. Honestly, I just think people were upset that in the first game, another team, and it so happen to be Puerto Rico beat the United States at their own game. I just think that egos were bruised and now they want to start a discussion about Puerto Rico not having the right to their teams in any sport.
Now to the comments that have been made by people that are supposeably puerto ricans and are demeaning their own race; you guys shouldn't even be called puerto ricans or allowed to use the term. Yes I know, alot of things are not right on the island, but that doesn't make all PUERTO RICANS stupid, ignorant , and any other word that has been used. For the people that made those comments, you guys are a disgrace to all of Puerto Rico.
Posted 25 Jul 2005 at 6:24pm #
It's simple...Puerto Rico has a seperate team because although we are not sovereign we are still a nation. We want to participate under our own flag and athem. We do not feel represented under the U.S. flag or anthem and we do not consider ourselves americans. Our nation is Puerto Rico and as such we voted to reject statehood on numerous occasions.
The person who began this blog clearly has no understanding of Puerto Rico.
When is Puerto Rico's independence day? WE DON'T HAVE ONE. July 4, 1776 is YOUR independence day. Puerto Ricans had NOTHING to do with the American revolution or its Declaration of Independence. At that time we were under Spain's sovereignity and would remain so for the next 130 years. In its histtory Puerto Rico has achieved only partial independence and it was from Spain in 1897 under what was known as the "Carta Auton�mica" which gave us almost all the rights of a soveign nation. That is until the U.S. invaded and took it away.
When did Puerto Rico's constitution became effective? ON JULY 25, 1952. NOT ON MARCH 4, 1789. That is YOUR constitution (which does NOT fully apply to Puerto Rico as an unincorporated territory).
Who is the chief of state and head of government? WE DONT HAVE ONE BECAUSE WE ARE NOT SOVEREIGN. George W. Bush is YOUR President which we did not elect or vote for (although he, as U.S. president, is sovereign over our island)
You didn't know the U.S. could govern other independent countries on the side? Well think again. IRAQ! The U.S. also goverened the Phillipines until the 1940's, it goverened Cuba in the early 20th century, and it STILL governs Puerto Rico. If a country is under U.S. control it is obviously not independent but it doesnt mean they are not countries or NATIONS albeit U.S. sovereginity over them. For that reason Puerto Rico takes its own delegation to the Olympics. Puerto Rico is our country, and our nation...the U.S. is not. That is why our flag is present in these events, representing us, not as americans, but as Puerto Ricans, as it should be. The fact that we hold U.S. passports is irrelevant. That does not make us any more "american" than it makes a person from the Carribbean Island of Martinique "european" because they carry Euro-passports. Puerto Ricans, period.
Posted 15 Jul 2006 at 7:34pm #
wat duz da fuk nut bush think his doin encouragein war in da middle east
per haps he should join the musterbatin squad of sumfin
fuk ur mum bush
Posted 01 Dec 2006 at 10:17pm #
u guys r fucking retarded being piss off that we Puerto Ricans beat ur dumbazz country, it was only a fucking game who the hell cares...RETARDS!!!
A PROUD PUERTO RICAN
PS go fuck yourselfs
Posted 25 Oct 2007 at 3:16pm #
WTF !!!!!! WHY DA HELL U.S SO PISSED FOR JUST CUZ THEY GOT THERE ASS BEAT BY PR...JJAJAJA BUNCH OF MISERABLE PIECE OF SHYTT!!! MA ASS DOMINICAN AND I LOVE BUNCHES OUR RICAN NEIGHBORS! SO U.S GOTTA FUCKIN GET OVA YA LAME ASSES THINKING YA THE BEST AT EVERYTHING..CUZ YA AINT!..CANT EVEN RECOGNIZE! BS....AND FOR YA FYI PR CAN HAVE THEIR OWN OLYMPIC TEAM..PR IS ONLII US TERRITORY NOT ACTUALLY PART OF THE US STATE MATTER!..SO YEAH WOO WOO YEY PR!!!....JUST SPITTIN OUT THE TRUTH! AIIGHT IM OUTZ JAJAJAA I BET YA MADD AS HELL AS U READ DIS COMMENT! BOOYAH! 😈