[SkiBum80]

Some food for thought, when you compete for a country in an international competition, who are you competing for, the country, its people or its government?

BC

A good question.
I don't offer an answer to it, but rather submit a companion thought and observation, that the motivation to compete is an instinctive impulse for many, or most people. You can see it among young siblings, even if not prompted at all by parents, or maybe even discouraged by parents, they still often have some instinct to compete.

[SkiBum80]

Some food for thought, when you compete for a country in an international competition, who are you competing for, the country, its people or its government?

BC

A good question.
I don't offer an answer to it, but rather submit a companion thought and observation, that the motivation to compete is an instinctive impulse for many, or most people. You can see it among young siblings, even if not prompted at all by parents, or maybe even discouraged by parents, they still often have some instinct to compete.