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As a Hungarian, I don't want but understand that the Liu brothers want to become Chinese nationals| inside and outside the Olympics

author:Sloth Bear Sports

I even think this will happen sooner.

Emotional factors aside, the Chinese nationality change plan of the Hungarian brothers Liu Shaolin and Liu Shaoang, Olympic short track speed skating champions, has been circulating in the industry since the end of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, and even since the earlier PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics, the prelude to the transition of the two brothers from Hungarian nationality to Chinese nationality has begun.

As a Hungarian, I don't want but understand that the Liu brothers want to become Chinese nationals| inside and outside the Olympics

In East Asia, especially China, Japan and South Korea, the star-chasing boom is unimaginable in other countries, and the huge economic potential behind it is also far beyond the world's imagination.

At the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, Shaolin (born November 20, 1995) and Shaoang (born March 13, 1998) were only 23 and 20 years old, respectively. They have already won several world-class competitions and are seeded in their events. The Korean people admire these two handsome boys very much, and even express their admiration in various ways. Overnight, the title of Olympic champion made the brothers big stars.

China has also long begun to accept the brothers, and their Tianjin gene (also known as Dalian gene) makes them very attractive in China.

In my opinion, the crazy worship that began in Korea was the beginning of the brothers' realization of their amazing potential in Asia. Of course, it was 2018, and we already knew that Beijing, China, would be the site of the next Winter Olympics – home to the world's largest consumer market.

Then, Gu Ailing's case happened. In many ways, her situation is similar to that of her brothers. The commercial value that China can create for ice and snow athletes is many times that of the United States, no matter what success Gu Ailing achieves. I am very sure that the Liu brothers have been paying close attention to Gu Ailing and the series of stories that appeared in her selection process.

As I mentioned above, putting emotions aside is the only way to truly understand these two decisions. Athletes who reach a certain level can continue their competitive career until they are nearly 30 years old, and if health conditions allow, they can reach the age of early 30s at most. These athletes must carefully consider their future. Therefore, business income and ethical choices need to be rationally judged and evaluated by them and their teams.

According to the information I received, Gu Ailing won two golds and one silver for China at the Winter Olympics, with a total income of about $30 million, and became a household star in China. Since then, she has been at the top of China, and the United States will never be able to get her to that height.

The Liu brothers must have felt it. They are young and handsome, and they are also accomplished athletes. At their age, Milano Cortina 2026 still has the potential to compete for gold for China. Their last Winter Olympics could be as far away as 2030.

The brothers were born (and raised) in Budapest, Hungary, to a Hungarian mother and a Chinese father. The brothers showed an astonishing talent for speed skating from an early age, and their Chinese coach and mentor, Zhang Jing, almost became another mother of the brothers. In 2020, Zhang Jing returned to China as the head coach of short track speed skating in China. The brothers also said they hope to work with their mentor again in the future.

As a Hungarian, I don't want but understand that the Liu brothers want to become Chinese nationals| inside and outside the Olympics

The Hungarian Skating Association has signed a bilateral contract with all athletes, which stipulates that, in the event of a change of nationality, the athlete must reimburse the association for the total expenses incurred in its training, competitions and other appropriations in the previous three years. Only in this way will the Hungarian Ice Federation not prohibit athletes from representing their new country. It is a universally applicable international rule that allows national federations to ban athletes who attempt to change nationalities for three years if the two sides cannot reach an agreement.

For the Liu brothers, the funds totaled about HUF 150 million (US$380,000) each, a figure that clearly falls far short of their vast business potential in China.

In addition, according to Hungarian law, Hungary provides a monthly allowance to each Olympic gold medalist, from the age of 35 until their death. Based on the exchange rate on November 16, 2022, Shaoang can get about $3,300 per month, while Shaolin is $1,250. Of course, the prerequisite for obtaining this money is to retain Hungarian citizenship. However, it is worth mentioning that Chinese law does not recognize dual nationality, and once naturalized, Hungarian nationality may have to be renounced.

As a Hungarian, I don't want but understand that the Liu brothers want to become Chinese nationals| inside and outside the Olympics

The Hungarian Skating Association agreed to their change of nationality, but they had to pay compensation. Meanwhile, the brothers' mother told Beijing Youth Daily that she wanted her sons to become Chinese nationals.

These overall financial "losses" pale in comparison to the potential gains that could be made in China. To take a simple example, the Liu brothers have managed to build a considerable presence on Chinese social media, with more than 1.3 million followers on Shaolin Weibo and nearly one million Shaoang.

I expect that once the change of nationality is implemented, which seems inevitable and happening quickly, Chinese companies will rush to sign the Liu brothers and complete marketing campaigns to fully tap into the world of Chinese consumers. Similarly, the brothers' exposure in various media outlets will also explode.

Emotions are set aside, and the reality of life often prevails. Similar to Gu Ailing, I am sure we will see the Liu brothers gain fame and fortune in China and even Asia.

As a Hungarian, I naturally want to see the brothers continue to retain their Hungarian nationality and feelings, whether athletes or celebrities, continue to succeed and inspire more people. Similarly, I would like to see them achieve the expected results and win the Olympic gold medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, even though they have already chosen to play for China by then.

As a Hungarian, I don't want but understand that the Liu brothers want to become Chinese nationals| inside and outside the Olympics

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article only represent the author's own views and do not represent Lazy Bear Sports.

As a Hungarian, I don't want but understand that the Liu brothers want to become Chinese nationals| inside and outside the Olympics

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