[DC 86]

I've often wondered if I could make an Olympic roster if I joined the curling team for Chinese-Taipei.

Interesting sport curling.  I competed in the Australian curling championships twice.  Lost in the team finals one year.  Only 2 times I ever curled.  Was a good laugh.  My Canadian Aussie friends were the core of the Australian Curling men's team.

Same thoughts here... If I had learned how to ski, could I have represented Mexico in the Winter Olympics?

The answer is probably no. Individual sports have time standards that have to be met to qualify. Team sports usually have preliminary qualifying tournaments that determine the field.

However, there are two scenarios that are workarounds. 1) The Olympics want geographic representation so it's possible to qualify as part of a team in a sport from a particularly weak region, without being a world class athlete. 2) many teams in foreign countries are selected by committees instead of trials, so it's possible that with enough influence you can be selected for a team. There have been examples of wealthy or powerful individuals (or relatives of committee members) being selected for an equestrian team or as the last man on the bench for a handball team, etc.

[DC 86]

I've often wondered if I could make an Olympic roster if I joined the curling team for Chinese-Taipei.

Interesting sport curling.  I competed in the Australian curling championships twice.  Lost in the team finals one year.  Only 2 times I ever curled.  Was a good laugh.  My Canadian Aussie friends were the core of the Australian Curling men's team.

Same thoughts here... If I had learned how to ski, could I have represented Mexico in the Winter Olympics?

The answer is probably no. Individual sports have time standards that have to be met to qualify. Team sports usually have preliminary qualifying tournaments that determine the field.

However, there are two scenarios that are workarounds. 1) The Olympics want geographic representation so it's possible to qualify as part of a team in a sport from a particularly weak region, without being a world class athlete. 2) many teams in foreign countries are selected by committees instead of trials, so it's possible that with enough influence you can be selected for a team. There have been examples of wealthy or powerful individuals (or relatives of committee members) being selected for an equestrian team or as the last man on the bench for a handball team, etc.