why 'Team GB' and not 'Team UK'?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

CrabRevolution wrote: »

So Michael Conlon is world champion, but only boxes for Ireland because he can't make the GB team?

Our 49er sailors are from Belfast. Currently they're 4th in the standings, while the GB team are 13th and risk being cut from the final race.

Or Ciara Mageean, from Down. Came third in europe (behind a Pole and a Dutch woman) but somehow can't make the GB team?


Or maybe, maybe...they're Irish and so compete for Ireland?

I was speaking in general, not in totality - obviously. :rolleyes:

lawlolawl

munsterlegend wrote: »

You should express those views to Michael Conlon, Paddy Barnes or Donnelly and get in the ring. Might not be using the keyboard for a while though.

Do you want to see your big muscly heroes beat up some random guy or something?

Is that the kind of ****ed up **** you are into?

munsterlegend

lawlolawl wrote: »

Do you want to see your big muscly heroes beat up some random guy or something?

Is that the kind of ****ed up **** you are into?

Karma. You'll be fine. On your logic they prob won't be sober.

munsterlegend

lawlolawl wrote: »

Do you want to see your big muscly heroes beat up some random guy or something?

Is that the kind of ****ed up **** you are into?

Karma. You'll be fine. On your logic they prob won't be sober.

Larbre34

Dame Mary Peters is the classic NI Unionist British athlete.

But in the main, the NI participants in the various sports tend to be more crap than their "mainland" colleagues who invariably take up the qualifying spots in 'Team GB', hence a disproportionate number than the demographic 50/50 end up representing Ireland. Basically its Ireland, or dont be an Olympian.

Sand

munsterlegend wrote: »

You should express those views to Michael Conlon, Paddy Barnes or Donnelly and get in the ring. Might not be using the keyboard for a while though.

Why? Are you saying they are violent thugs?

munsterlegend

Larbre34 wrote: »

Dame Mary Peters is the classic NI Unionist British athlete.

But in the main, the NI participants in the various sports tend to be more crap than their "mainland" colleagues who invariably take up the qualifying spots in 'Team GB', hence a disproportionate number than the demographic 50/50 end up representing Ireland. Basically its Ireland, or dont be an Olympian.

I don't agree. Sport in Ireland except soccer has always been on a 32 county basis. There are sports played up north which would be traditionally stronger in Britian like hockey cricket so they would opt for them.

munsterlegend

Sand wrote: »

Why? Are you saying they are violent thugs?

They are great sober Irish athletes.

Beasty

Larbre34 wrote: »

Dame Mary Peters is the classic NI Unionist British athlete.

...born in Lancashire;)

Chuchote

How are the refugee athletes doing, by the way?

lawlolawl

Chuchote wrote: »

How are the refugee athletes doing, by the way?

They have one less medal than us.

maryishere

Larbre34 wrote: »

Dame Mary Peters is the classic NI Unionist British athlete.

But in the main, the NI participants in the various sports tend to be more crap than their "mainland" colleagues who invariably take up the qualifying spots in 'Team GB', hence a disproportionate number than the demographic 50/50 end up representing Ireland. Basically its Ireland, or dont be an Olympian.

To be on team GB , the competition is generally a lot stiffer than to be on team Ireland...they have something like over 30 medals versus how many have we got at these games this year so far?

Any time I hear of the British Olympics organisation and its interaction with Irish sports people, one extraordinary Irish athlete stands out. Peter O'Connor of Waterford.

In 1900, and again in 1904 the British offered him a place on their team but he refused on both occasions as the British Olympics committee was the greatest opponent of recognition of an Irish Olympics team. He broke the world long jump record in 1901 - actually, he broke it 9 times in that one year - and this world record lasted for a solid twenty years. Furthermore, it was not until 1990 that an Irish person broke it.

But it looked as if the Intercalated Games would accept the inclusion of an Irish team. So the rival GAA and Irish Amateur Athletic Association jointly nominated O’Connor, along with two other athletes, Con Leahy and John Daly, to compete under an Irish flag. This was a golden harp and shamrock on a green background bearing the legend ‘Erin go Bragh’. However the IOC reneged and permission for the three men to compete for Ireland was withdrawn. When they travelled to Athens and registered they were told they would have to represent the United Kingdom. With great reluctance the three athletes bowed to the inevitable.(Myles Dungan, 'Peter O'Connor')

In the 1906 Olympics he won gold in hop, skip and jump and silver in the long jump. At the awards' ceremony in Athens the Union Jack was raised so Peter took out the Irish flag that he brought with him from Ireland, climbed 20ft up the flagpole and replaced the Union Jack with the Irish flag, while his fellow athletes Con Leahy and John Daly prevented people from climbing up after him. What an inspirational image even 110 years later. When boyhood's fire was in my blood I read of ancient freemen, For Greece and Rome who bravely stood, Three hundred men and three men...


Peter O'Connor and the 1906 Athens Olympics

CrabRevolution

In the London 1908 olympics the Brits had a pretty ingenious medal winning scheme in the hockey. There were only 2 foreign teams, France and Germany. Instead of entering one team, GB entered 4, England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

In the end England won gold, Ireland silver, and Scotland and Wales got a bronze each. Since all these teams were part of the same country, all 4 of these medals were attributed to GB.

munsterlegend

maryishere wrote: »

To be on team GB , the competition is generally a lot stiffer than to be on team Ireland...they have something like over 30 medals versus how many have we got at these games this year so far?

Incredulous insight Mary. The fact their population is at least 10 times or over the island of Ireland would probably make it stiffer? Also the benefit of immigrants such as say Mo Farah. They are doing well in this Olympics particularly in cycling and rowing and are reaping the benefit from investment programmes in the lead up to London 2012. We finished ahead of them in the medals table not so long ago when their performance was a national embarrassment for them much like the English soccer team in their national sport losing to Iceland recently

Anyway the Olympic spirit is about competing and all our athletes give their all save for one exception who obviously had personal issues.

robinph

munsterlegend wrote: »

Incredulous insight Mary. The fact their population is at least 10 times or over the island of Ireland would probably make it stiffer? Also the benefit of immigrants such as say Mo Farah. They are doing well in this Olympics particularly in cycling and rowing and are reaping the benefit from investment programmes in the lead up to London 2012. We finished ahead of them in the medals table not so long ago when their performance was a national embarrassment for them much like the English soccer team in their national sport losing to Iceland recently

Anyway the Olympic spirit is about competing and all our athletes give their all save for one exception who obviously had personal issues.

Mo Farah moved to the UK aged 8 so he's not exactly a product of the Somalian Olympic Team that then jumped ship. You could potentially make a case for that argument for the Ofili sisters who grew up in the US before switching to represent the UK. But again that is still nothing compared to what the likes of Bahrain, Turkey and others are up to with handing out passports to any Kenyan that comes asking after not making the Kenyan team.

Mo Farah is definitely British.

As for Ireland finishing above Team GB, I presume that you mean '96 where they did have an awful Olympics. Irelands performance at that games is not exactly something to shout about though and is probably best not spoken of.

munsterlegend

robinph wrote: »

Mo Farah moved to the UK aged 8 so he's not exactly a product of the Somalian Olympic Team that then jumped ship. You could potentially make a case for that argument for the Ofili sisters who grew up in the US before switching to represent the UK. But again that is still nothing compared to what the likes of Bahrain, Turkey and others are up to with handing out passports to any Kenyan that comes asking after not making the Kenyan team.

Mo Farah is definitely British.

As for Ireland finishing above Team GB, I presume that you mean '96 where they did have an awful Olympics. Irelands performance at that games is not exactly something to shout about though and is probably best not spoken of.

I agree Mo Farah is British and know his history. However you can't get away from the fact that he is of African origin and they dominate from 1500m up save for very limited exceptions. It's just the way it is and we all know the science why. We as a smaller island would not benefit from such immigration to the same extent.

LordSutch

munsterlegend wrote: »

I agree Mo Farah is British and know his history. However you can't get away from the fact that he is of African origin and they dominate from 1500m up save for very limited exceptions. It's just the way it is and we all know the science why. We as a smaller island would not benefit from such immigration to the same extent.

There must be at least some Irish athletes/Rugby/footballers who were born outside of Ireland.

Katie Taylor's Dad is English, and Shannon McCurley is an Australian-born cyclist who competes for team Ireland (and that's just two off the top of my head). Every country has athletes whoe were born outside the 'mother country', and in the end its down to the Athlete themselves as to who they wish to represent. Northern Ireland athletes are in a great position re olympic selection, as they can either opt for 'Team GB and NI' or team Ireland.

munsterlegend

robinph wrote: »

Mo Farah moved to the UK aged 8 so he's not exactly a product of the Somalian Olympic Team that then jumped ship. You could potentially make a case for that argument for the Ofili sisters who grew up in the US before switching to represent the UK. But again that is still nothing compared to what the likes of Bahrain, Turkey and others are up to with handing out passports to any Kenyan that comes asking after not making the Kenyan team.

Mo Farah is definitely British.

As for Ireland finishing above Team GB, I presume that you mean '96 where they did have an awful Olympics. Irelands performance at that games is not exactly something to shout about though and is probably best not spoken of.

This games has been poor in terms of the boxers. Hopefully Taylor and Conlon can medal. It's virtually impossible nowadays to medal in athletics unless a superhuman effort and making a final really is the ultimate of ambitions. The rowers and sailors did well. If you want to win medals we need to focus on certain sports such as maybe rowing like we do in boxing. Maybe even cycling as not the same level of competition. We have good golfers but that's only one medal chance.

munsterlegend

LordSutch wrote: »

There must be at least some Irish athletes/Rugby/footballers who were born outside of Ireland.

Katie Taylor's Dad is English, and Shannon McCurley is an Australian-born cyclist who competes for team Ireland (and that's just two off the top of my head). Every country has athletes whoe were born outside the 'mother country', and in the end its down to the Athlete themselves as to who they wish to represent. Northern Ireland athletes are in a great position re olympic selection, as they can either opt for 'Team GB and NI' or team Ireland.

Of course there are. The point is we don't benefit as much as bigger countries. How could we?! Mo Farah is an exceptional talent and I quite like him. Shows the benefits of immigration.

Paul McGrath was born in England to A Nigerian dad. One of our all time greats who grew up in Dublin thankfully.

robinph

The BBC have come up with a table to help the xenophobic distinguish between the Olympic medallists who are actually foreigners, or at least where they were each born.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/36959780