To me, chess is primarily an individual game, and I was mildly surprised that so many here think about it as a country thing. Magnus Carlsen the individual, not Norway, is best in the world. Norway is just one mildly interesting data point about him. In my mind.

In the Olympics -- yes then I understand, then it's one player per country. So disallow, then. But there's so many other chess competitions.

Comparing with ice hockey doesn't make sense to me.