Country on the back of the jacket?

[Brandj]

Hi all,

I will be going to a national event, and it is recommended to put my country on the back of my jacket. My problem is that I reside in America and have a Green Card. However, I do not have a citizenship yet. Should I put the country of citizenship on the back of my jacket, or the country of residence?

Thanks

[HDG]

If you're not competing internationally, don't worry about it; you only need a name for anything domestic. Theoretically, if you're only competing domestically, you could put any country on there you wanted, but if you're in the process of earning citizenship, go with that.

[Brandj]

Great! Thanks.

On the same topic, am I allowed to represent the US in an international tournament with just a Green Card?

[HDG]

Originally Posted by Brandj

Great! Thanks.

On the same topic, am I allowed to represent the US in an international tournament with just a Green Card?

Section 4.5.2 of the Athlete's Handbook states:
"Athletes must be citizens fo the United States at the time of selection for international teams."

Since there's no reference to Permanent Residents there, I think the inference must be that a Green Card is insufficient.

[KD5MDK]

However, if you are a US permanent resident who wants to fence at an FIE Satellite event, or in some local tournament in Great Britain or Germany or whatever that doesn't require USFA approval, you may be considered a US fencer. You'd probably have to ask the organizers, but I don't think anyone would consider it a big deal.

[DHCJr]

Originally Posted by KD5MDK

However, if you are a US permanent resident who wants to fence at an FIE Satellite event, or in some local tournament in Great Britain or Germany or whatever that doesn't require USFA approval, you may be considered a US fencer. You'd probably have to ask the organizers, but I don't think anyone would consider it a big deal.

But they do have to have approval of the FIE in the form of a FIE licence. If you check the FIE Statues 9.1.5.d 'When a fencer is visiting another country, or even if he lives in a country other than his own, he must apply for his licence to the member Federation of his own country, that is to say, to the member Federation of the country whose nationality he possesses.'

From this I believe Citizenship is required, not just a Green Card.

[fencerbill]

Let me relate the curious story of a friend of mine who fences Veterans events.

In 1999 the first World Veterans Championships with all 3 weapons in Siofolk, Hungary, was announced. My friend had his green card and had resided in the US for 30 plus years but had happily remained a citizen of Canada. He could participate in the USFA Summer Championships so what was the big deal? He immediately applied for US citizenship so that he could proudly represent the country of his residence.

As you probably know the process for gaining citizenship plods along. So with the deadline for entering the World Championships fast approaching he was in a bind and had to decide. He did represent Canada even though his US citizenships became effective two weeks before the Championships and he still represents Canada.

But he no longer can participate in the USFA Championships.

My advice is to not put the designation of either country on your fencing uniform. When you have achieved dual citizenships, then you can decide. We never know how circumstances may change as time passes.

My recall is that the country designation costs the same whether you get it at the same time as your name or at another time.

Also, some people might be critical if you were wearing USA but had not yet achieved citizenship.

[fencerbill]

Originally Posted by DHCJr

But they do have to have approval of the FIE in the form of a FIE licence. If you check the FIE Statues 9.1.5.d 'When a fencer is visiting another country, or even if he lives in a country other than his own, he must apply for his licence to the member Federation of his own country, that is to say, to the member Federation of the country whose nationality he possesses.'

From this I believe Citizenship is required, not just a Green Card.

I am not sure but don't Canada and the US have agreements that non-FIE events don't require FIE licenses? You can go to Canada and participate in a CFF event with only a USFA membership and they can come to a NAC or local tournaments with only CFF membership. For FIE World Cups, an FIE license is required even in your own country.

[DHCJr]

Bill, I agree with you not to get the country unless you need to.

Your story reminded me of another incident caused by the citizenship of a Veteran Fencer. Peter Harmer who is the Chief Medical Officer for the USFA and was a member of the FIE Medical Commission for the US. Peter decided to fence at the Veteran Worlds for his country. The problem is his country is not the US. He is a citizen of Australia. This was right before the last elections. The US could not nominate him for reelection, because he was not from the US, so we asked Australia if they would nominate him. They were happy too, so now he has been a member of the Medical Commission for 2 different countries.

[KD5MDK]

I wonder what the FIE would require you do in order to get a license if your home country did not have a fencing federation.

[qatet]

Originally Posted by KD5MDK

I wonder what the FIE would require you do in order to get a license if your home country did not have a fencing federation.

You're kidding, right? I'm sure that Roch would gleefully create a federation for you on the spot. (With full voting rights, of course...)

;p

[DHCJr]

Originally Posted by KD5MDK

I wonder what the FIE would require you do in order to get a license if your home country did not have a fencing federation.

You fence under the FIE banner. (Statues 1.2.6.a)