Who do I support?

Matt Tidcombe and his dilemma

KAZAN – Being a citizen of two countries is certainly an advantage. I’m allowed to legally live in two countries, have the right to vote in both elections and also work where I please. The more the better as they say and I certainly have more.

But one major problem with having dual citizenship is in sports. I was born in Bristol, England, but I now live in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada.

When England, or the UK as is the case here at the 2013 Universiade, face Canada I sometimes find it difficult to choose who to root for. It’s easy to say I want a draw since neither wins nor loses, but often that doesn’t actually help either team in the current predicament of the game or competition.

My saving grace is that England and Canada tend to be good at completely opposing sports. England are a much better football nation, ditto for Canada in hockey. England are a rugby powerhouse, whereas the same can’t be said for England’s swimming team.

However, at an event like the Universiade when so many athletes are close in their skillset, it gets tricky. In individual sports it’s possible to root for the competitors from both countries, but in team sports it’s difficult.

Do I support the country of my birth, the place where I grew up, or do I support the country where I now live and became a man?

It makes for a delicate choice and one that you can’t always take lightly. I love both countries though and perhaps that is what triumphs over everything else.

Matt Tidcombe (CAN/GBR), FISU Young Reporter