Should Team GB continue after London 2012?

[cmonurz]

As I said above, ignoring the politics of it, we'd need to enter a GB team into the European Under-21 Championship, in order to qualify. Which won't happen.

[floyd__streete]

The best solution would be for us just to enter a team anyway, block any attempts to merge the 4 independent FAs using our veto as explained earlier in thread and then design a special commemorative shirt for the event bearing the words:

WE DO WHAT WE WAAAAAANT......

[just some bloke]

As I said above, ignoring the politics of it, we'd need to enter a GB team into the European Under-21 Championship, in order to qualify. Which won't happen.

One possible workaround would be for a British qualifying team from that (England, most likely), would then go on to represent Britain at the Olympics. But I guess then it would be unlikely we could include Welsh or Scottish players having qualified as an English team.

[Royal With Cheese]

I've had a think about it.

Yes, yes they should.

It would really piss off the Taffs and Jocks so it gets my vote.

[soggy biscuit]

Scotland is holding a referendum next year on devolution and I wouldn't be surprised if one followed for Wales soon after.

I would

[pea]

Scotland is holding a referendum next year on devolution and I wouldn't be surprised if one followed for Wales soon after.

I would

lol @ Zac

[ZacNaloen]

Can't say I get the Joke


Talk of independance in Wales is always bubbling away in the background, much like in Scotland. There may not be much of an appetite now they've just had a major victory in gaining extra powers and support for full independance has hovered between 10 and 15%, but if Scotland successfully leave the union I wouldn't be at all surprised to see plaid start to make louder noises about it.. And of course what I mean by soon is open to personal interpretation.

[Rev Algenon Stickleback H]

As I said above, ignoring the politics of it, we'd need to enter a GB team into the European Under-21 Championship, in order to qualify. Which won't happen.

Not really. Just say that if one of the British teams qualifies then GB can take part.

[Stuka]

Can it be called Team UK, or better yet just 'UK'? We don't go round calling ourselves 'Team England' and neither is there 'Team Sweden' or 'Team Moldova'. Also it should be UK as presumably Northern Ireland would be represented, if only on paper.

[Rev Algenon Stickleback H]

Can it be called Team UK, or better yet just 'UK'? We don't go round calling ourselves 'Team England' and neither is there 'Team Sweden' or 'Team Moldova'. Also it should be UK as presumably Northern Ireland would be represented, if only on paper.

I think that's down to the curious issue of the IOC insisting that there's a country out there called Ireland, and Northern Ireland is part of "Ireland".

I think the "team" part is pretty common across many countries, but I don't like it. It's fine if you are referring to the whole Olympic squad, but not inividual teams.

[AthleticoSpizz]

oh yes (in answer to the original question)

[gazzer, loyal royal]

As I said above, ignoring the politics of it, we'd need to enter a GB team into the European Under-21 Championship, in order to qualify. Which won't happen.

exactly this. The IOC won't let another country qualify as GB, so we will have to play as GB in the U21s to qualify

[Royal With Cheese]

Can it be called Team UK, or better yet just 'UK'? We don't go round calling ourselves 'Team England' and neither is there 'Team Sweden' or 'Team Moldova'. Also it should be UK as presumably Northern Ireland would be represented, if only on paper.

I think that's down to the curious issue of the IOC insisting that there's a country out there called Ireland, and Northern Ireland is part of "Ireland".

I think the "team" part is pretty common across many countries, but I don't like it. It's fine if you are referring to the whole Olympic squad, but not inividual teams.

But there isn't a county called Ireland. It's called the Republic of Ireland and the Good Friday Agreement established Northern Ireland's right to self determination.

It's our governing body have decided to call us Team GB I believe because it sounds nice.

Also, you'll find a lot of NI compeditors competing for ROI for both policitcal and funding reasons.

TBF - it's a bit of a mess.

[SCIAG]

Can't say I get the Joke


Talk of independance in Wales is always bubbling away in the background, much like in Scotland. There may not be much of an appetite now they've just had a major victory in gaining extra powers and support for full independance has hovered between 10 and 15%, but if Scotland successfully leave the union I wouldn't be at all surprised to see plaid start to make louder noises about it.. And of course what I mean by soon is open to personal interpretation.

Scotland is much more affluent than Wales though. I imagine Wales would struggle without the money from London and the SE.

[Rev Algenon Stickleback H]

Can it be called Team UK, or better yet just 'UK'? We don't go round calling ourselves 'Team England' and neither is there 'Team Sweden' or 'Team Moldova'. Also it should be UK as presumably Northern Ireland would be represented, if only on paper.

I think that's down to the curious issue of the IOC insisting that there's a country out there called Ireland, and Northern Ireland is part of "Ireland".

I think the "team" part is pretty common across many countries, but I don't like it. It's fine if you are referring to the whole Olympic squad, but not inividual teams.

But there isn't a county called Ireland. It's called the Republic of Ireland and the Good Friday Agreement established Northern Ireland's right to self determination.

There's no Republic of Ireland team in the Olympics. It's just Ireland, and that team officially covers Northern Ireland as well.

Quite why the IOC overrules sovereign states or even the UN on the definintion of countries is a mystery.

[Ian Royal]

Isn't it because the IOC avoids politics, so if enough people believe in a country that doesn't strictly exist and want to compete under that flag, they're welcome to?

[Royal With Cheese]

It was a moot point up until the good Friday agreement but frankly nothing surprises me around governing bodies of sport.

It does make you wonder then why the cross of St Patrick isn't used or, as in Rugby, the green flag to denominate Irish compeditors. The tricolour is clearly a national flag of ROI.

[Royal With Cheese]

Isn't it because the IOC avoids politics, so if enough people believe in a country that doesn't strictly exist and want to compete under that flag, they're welcome to?

[Hoop Blah]

I think that's down to the curious issue of the IOC insisting that there's a country out there called Ireland, and Northern Ireland is part of "Ireland".

There's no Republic of Ireland team in the Olympics. It's just Ireland, and that team officially covers Northern Ireland as well.

Quite why the IOC overrules sovereign states or even the UN on the definintion of countries is a mystery.

But Northern Ireland competitors compete for Great Britain don't they? Or do they basically have a choice?

I thought 'Ireland' was just ROI but lazily dropping the R and O.

[Rev Algenon Stickleback H]

I think that's down to the curious issue of the IOC insisting that there's a country out there called Ireland, and Northern Ireland is part of "Ireland".

There's no Republic of Ireland team in the Olympics. It's just Ireland, and that team officially covers Northern Ireland as well.

Quite why the IOC overrules sovereign states or even the UN on the definintion of countries is a mystery.

But Northern Ireland competitors compete for Great Britain don't they? Or do they basically have a choice?

I thought 'Ireland' was just ROI but lazily dropping the R and O.

Those from Northern Ireland can be in either team. The official name of the team is Ireland, all dating messily back to 1922 when Ireland joined the IOC.

The Great Britain team also includes overseas territories which aren't part of Great Britain, although how many athletes we ever take from the Falklands or Pitcairn Islands etc is a different question.