By Christos Zampounis

The term has become prevalent in the Greek language as naturalized, especially in basketball, where we recently had the “Greekization” of basketball player Thomas Walkup, on the grounds that “he can offer important services to the country, contributing to the distinctions of the national basketball team”. The process was fast track and the former NBA star was granted Greek citizenship, signed by the Minister of Interior and the President of the Republic. Interesting was the post of Panathinaikos’ Director of Communication, Dimitrios Kontos, on Social Media: “In 19 months (ed: as long as he plays for Olympiacos) a Greek, at the same time that others struggle for years to get the passport of the country they attend schools in, hold its flag and breathe its air as babies”.

The column recalled another naturalisation case, which has been pending for decades, and came into the news after the interview in the programme “365 Moments” of Sophia Papaioannou, the two eldest sons of King Constantine, princes Paul and Nicholas. There, the majority of viewers were informed that the members of the Greek royal family do not have Greek citizenship, and in order to obtain it, they have to declare a name other than their own. Since this is difficult to do, since who among us would renounce their history and ancestry, perhaps an intermediate solution would solve the Gordian knot. What do I mean? After the prince or princess they could add the name Walcup.