Vanessa Mae wants to ski for Thailand?

[surapong]

An unusual request from the attractive violinist!

Vanessa is an avid downhill skier. She wanted to represent Thailand at the 2002 Winter Olympics, but her dream did not materialise. Thai authorities requested that she give up her UK passport in exchange for a Thai passport.

Jamaica had an Olympic bobsled team, so I suppose it’s not that strange a request!!

Isn’t 36 a bit old for competitive downhill ski events? That’s how old she’ll be in 2014.

http://bangkokpost.com/entertainment/mu ... ski-for-us

[Victor]

She is half-Thai, so she can represent Thailand if proven that she is better at it than other Thais, no matter how old she is. But asking her to drop her Uk passport first is a double standard and not fair.

[Voice]

Victor wrote “She is half-Thai, so she can represent Thailand if proven that she is better at it than other Thais, no matter how old she is. But asking her to drop her Uk passport first is a double standard and not fair.

I met this girl many years ago in London and I thought she was a spoil little girl I ever met. I didn’t know she wants to change her career!

[aileen]

I am glad Vanessa Mae still remembers her Thainess and should be welcome as our representative for the ski event. I doubt whether there is any Thai who has taken up skiing seriously. It is also good for Thailand, the name of which has become quite international now. I always feel some warmthness watching her performance and like to remind people nearby that she is half-Thai.

Similarly, I have the same feeling for Tiger Woods though his admission of Thainess is less strong than Vanessa's. I feel somewhat sad for him with his personal failure and hope he could recover from his shameful lapses.

[shakakoz]

I doubt whether there is any Thai who has taken up skiing seriously.

Except for this guy:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prawat_Nagvajara

[Victor]

Thanks for the information. It is indeed very rare for a Thai to be any good at this winter sport. I myself spent years living in the cold climate and still cannot walk properly on the frozen sidewalk.

[aileen]

I doubt whether there is any Thai who has taken up skiing seriously.

Except for this guy:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prawat_Nagvajara

shakakoz,

Thank you! I start to like this forum. Now I learn of one Thai skier who was the only one Thai participant in the Winter Olympics and therefore unavoidably chosen as our flag bearer. I wouldn't mind Vanessa Mae as our flag bearer in the coming Winter Olympics even her performance comes out last. Publicity with a big name like that and possibly with her appearance of long boots is good for Thailand. We deserve this break after bad luck since Thaksin left Thailand. So,Thailand Olympic Committee please make this real. Dual nationality should be acceptable for this exceptional opportunity.

[charliechang33]

hahaha...Thai bureaucrats are the typical hypocrites.

How many Thai holds dual citizenship?

When Vanessa Mae wants to compete for Thailand at Winter Olympic, she got screwed.

[aileen]

by charliechang33 on Sat Aug 28, 2010 4:02 pm

hahaha...Thai bureaucrats are the typical hypocrites.

How many Thai holds dual citizenship?

charliechang33,

Bureaucrats of any nationalities are hypocrites, anyway.

There are plenty Thais holding dual citizenship except they do not tell you of their unique positions. Once known, they could be faced with Thai laws of having to select one only.

[mkp123]

I seriously feel that Vanessa should be allowed to represent Thailand at the 2002 winter Burton snowboards Olympics. I really wonder when we will able to break the shackles of nationality, race, caste, religion etc and become one world where there are no borders. Moreover she is half Thai so in my view she should be granted her wish. I fully support her. This incident simply shows the arrogance of Thailand whose rulers made most of their money through sex tourism.