In a letter addressed to the President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron dated October 28, 2021 and made public this Thursday by RMC Sport, Joel Embiid indicated that he wanted to acquire French nationality and play basketball for France internationally. Three years later, the promise is gone and the reigning MVP will play with Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Announced this week as a member of the United States national team for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games basketball tournament, Joel Embiid has definitively confirmed his choice of the Star-Spangled Banner for FIBA international competitions. An expected epilogue and without any surprise, but now a new episode has just been released in this affair full of twists and turns, namely that of the choice of nationality of the Sixers pivot in matters of basketball.
For several years, the player has in fact discussed a lot with the French Basketball Federation, but also with Team USA. His response, which was due last fall, ruled out any hope of one day seeing Embiid featured on a France jersey. He chose the United States. And his decision is completely up to him.
🔴 🇫🇷 RMC Sport INFO. When Joël Embiid promised Emmanuel Macron to play for France in order to receive French nationality. pic.twitter.com/4zN3yn2b9o
— RMC Sport (@RMCsport) April 18, 2024
RMC Sport today published a letter that the media obtained. This is a letter written directly by the player, and addressed to Emmanuel Macron. Certainly, it dates from October 18, 2021, but it reflects a “decided” choice to represent France, and in fact the establishment of a process for acquiring French nationality.
No doubt between the writing of this letter and his final decision to play with LeBron James and his clique, a lot of discussions took place. Now it is too late to turn back. This letter, however, puts the player at fault vis-à-vis a government and a federation. Which is still a shame… but will not (too much) detract from the pleasure of seeing him evolve for the first time on an international level, especially in Paris.
Here is his letter, presented by RMC Sport.
Mister President,
I know your sincere interest in basketball and its development and more generally in sport, which brings honor to France. However, I am not writing to you to talk to you about the NBA season which is opening, and for which I have great hopes within my club the Philadelphia 76ers. I now play a leadership role and aspire to make my club a serious candidate for the title.
I am writing to tell you about France. Although I spent a large part of my youth in the USA as well as in France, I am of Cameroonian nationality. I was born in 1994 in Yaoundé. Cameroon will therefore always remain an important part of my identity. However, another is French. Part of my family is in fact French and, beyond sharing the language, I have often stayed in France. As soon as I have the opportunity, I visit my aunts Suzanne and Lucie, living in Courtry and Courcouronnes, as well as my first cousin Pierre, who lives in Evry. I have fond memories of my summer vacations spent in France, like the summer of 2009, during which I was able to spend the entire month of July enjoying the capital. Moreover, I still go regularly to Paris, where I wish to acquire a permanent second home.
Also, after discussions with the French Basketball Federation, my choice has now been made. I would like to take the steps to obtain French naturalization and thus be eligible for selection with the Blues. I therefore do not wish to play for any other national team. I have sent a file to this effect to the Ministry of the Interior and Foreign Affairs.
I have never worn the colors of any national team. It would be an immense honor for me to join this French team to participate in the next major international competitions, first and foremost the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
I measure the solemnity of my request, what it represents, what it means, but also in certain respects its duration and its complexity against the usual criteria for granting nationality. I therefore ask for your support to support these initiatives, support without which they will not be successful.
I am naturally at your disposal and those of your services to support this common ambition that we share with the French basketball team and its leaders.
Thanking you for your attention to my request, and asking you to believe, Mr. President, in the expression of my deepest consideration.
Joel Embiid
Source : RMC Sport
2024-04-18 10:57:00
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