Evaluation of the effects of nationality swapping on Turkish sports from the perspective of sports scientists

Ali Eraslan, Özgün Parasiz and Alperen Halici

African Educational Research Journal
Published: January 16 2023
Volume 11, Issue 1
Pages 21-31
DOI: https://doi.org/10.30918/AERJ.111.22.080

Abstract

National Athletes who are representing a different country from their country of birth are called “naturalized/nationality-swapped athletes”. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the nationality-swapping system in Turkish sports with its why, how, and effects on Turkish sports. The study was designed as a case study, which is one of the qualitative research methods. The research data were collected through face-to-face interviews with sports sciences academics (who have/had important roles in sports federations) and collected data were analyzed via the inductive content analysis method. The results show that the main reasons for the application of naturalized athletes are, use them as a shortcut to success, governmental pressure and the presentation of the country and branches; when it comes to its effects although they have some positive effects, naturalized athletes have much more negative effects on Turkish sports; The society's failure to internalize success of naturalized athletes and favoritism to naturalized athletes by managers has seen as most marked negative effects, and increasing interest in the sports and naturalized athletes’ role model being too young athletes are found as the most marked positive effects.

Keywords: Turkish sports, naturalized athletes, nationality swapping, national allegiance.

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