Sports Club

Naturalization, a solution for the Romanian sports

Florin Orban, 02.11.2016, 13:26

The Romanian government last week decided
to grant Romanian citizenship to basketball player Ashley Walker and driver
Simone Tempestini. According to government sources the move will allow their
inclusion in the lineups of Romania’s sides taking part in various
international competitions.

Both athletes have applied for citizenship this year and their
applications have been approved by the Committee for Citizenship within the
National Authority for Citizenship, which ruled the applicants are meeting the
legal criteria. Under the law, the Ministry of Youth and Sports had drafted
resolutions granting the Romanian citizenship to the two athletes, which were
later endorsed by the government.

Legislation passed last year has thus eased procedures for foreign
nationals or people without citizenship with a significant contribution to the
promotion of Romanian culture, civilization and spirituality to gain
citizenship. The facilities can also benefit the foreign nationals who might
contribute to the promotion of Romania’s image through performances in sports,
by representing Romania in international competitions or by simply expressing
attachment towards the country and the Romanian system of values.

These legislation amendments are paving the way towards raising the
value of our national sides with well-trained athletes. The first effects of
the new legislation were visible at the Olympic Games in Rio. Wrestler Albert
Saritov, a Chechen from the Russian Federation, who was granted Romanian
citizenship this year, became bronze medalist in the free-style event of the
97-kilogram category.