November 1, 2019
It is quite clear that nowadays many international borders are crossed in the pursuit of professional athletic careers. In the last 30 years we have witnessed a large movement of athletes crossing borders to play and live overseas.
Professional athletes moving abroad face a number of challenges as they settle and adjust to new realities. Signing a playing contract in a foreign country comes with many challenges; a new culture, a different language, a different tax and legal system, and the change of a team and colleagues are just a few of the hurdles they have to face. Athletes with families have the additional burden of helping their family to adjust to the new realities, having to deal with finding suitable housing, schools for the children, creating a new circle of friends and creating new daily routines.
This month, we look into the cross border challenges and concerns of athletes who have signed contracts in foreign countries and who live and play abroad. We try to offer sound advice on how to handle these challenges as best as possible, and we urge athletes to immediately create a support network of professionals in their new home country, which will protect them against the peculiarities of life in a foreign land.
Athena P. Constantinou
E-mail: [email protected]
