irish sailor switches to Team GB for Tokyo olympics

maudgonner · 06-01-2017 02:55PM

Jesus, the poor Satanists! Will nobody think of the Satanists!!!

FrKurtFahrt · 06-01-2017 03:01PM

Anita Blow wrote: »

In fairness if you read the article she explains why she's representing Team GB. After Rio, her Irish partner retired and there is no other sailor of a similar level to her (now retired) partner to make a competitive duo for the Tokyo Olympics. So she found a partner in the UK who she can partner with.

For these athletes, the Olympics is the pinnacle of their career. Do people expect her to retire just because her partner did? Or should she do what she can to ensure she can compete one more time? I think anybody would do the latter.

While I agree with her wish/need to do as well as possible at the Olympics - the pinnacle - and to be competitive, I was of the opinion that any country put their OWN best competitors forward to represent that country. I mean, by this logic, couldn't a swimmer from Italy, another from France, one from Belgium and one from Germany join team UK to make that relay team better, and to improve their own chances of winning? I can't agree with cherry-picking in this regard.

pure.conya · 06-01-2017 03:03PM

Fratton Fred wrote: »

what?

I'm pretty sure using oars in a sailing competition would get you banned

which is exactly what her previous partner had done. She was born in Hampshire, but had an Irish Granny

aah yes, the good old double standards.

try not to dribble on your United shirt.

I had mór grá for Liverpool in my youth but the last 10+ years I've watched 2 or 3 ROI games max, i gave up on the whole ridiculous fanaticism surrounding 22 men chasing a ball around a rectangular pitch and lads being paid more than a small countries GDP

super_furry · 06-01-2017 03:07PM

Can't blame her at all. With her partner gone, her choice is either switch to Great Britain or give up on having a chance at competing at the Olympics.

I doubt we'd be seeing so much talk about this if she was switching to Canada or Australia.

schizo1014 · 06-01-2017 03:07PM

judeboy101 wrote: »

Mentions god, so that discriminates against polytheists and Satanists. She is also the defender of the faith and the head of her own religion. I'd say that all qualifies as sectarian

AH will only mention how our own national anthem talks about the saxon foe, but completely ignore where it mentions "Rebellious Scots to crush" in God Save the Queen, which seems a bit sectarian if you ask me, but sure boards obviously knows better :rolleyes:

maudgonner · 06-01-2017 03:07PM

FrKurtFahrt wrote: »

While I agree with her wish/need to do as well as possible at the Olympics - the pinnacle - and to be competitive, I was of the opinion that any country put their OWN best competitors forward to represent that country. I mean, by this logic, couldn't a swimmer from Italy, another from France, one from Belgium and one from Germany join team UK to make that relay team better, and to improve their own chances of winning? I can't agree with cherry-picking in this regard.

It happens all the time, and with a lot less justification than Tidey has. e.g.

http://www.rte.ie/sport/athletics/2016/1213/838446-greg-allen/

Sonia Sullivan has spoken out about it a lot, which is a little ironic since Sonia herself switched allegiances to represent Australia at the Commonwealth Games.

StudentDad · 06-01-2017 03:18PM

After reading some of the replies to this thread, maybe we could re-title it as: You're Not Irish If ....

You speak English? Accept the Common Law?

It would be nice to live in a world where nationalistic bull**** didn't get in the way of living!

SD

Fratton Fred · 06-01-2017 03:22PM

schizo1014 wrote: »

AH will only mention how our own national anthem talks about the saxon foe, but completely ignore where it mentions "Rebellious Scots to crush" in God Save the Queen, which seems a bit sectarian if you ask me, but sure boards obviously knows better :rolleyes:

http://www.aforceforgood.org.uk/precious/anthem1

The notion that a verse about "Marshal Wade" crushing "Rebellious Scots" is, or ever was, part of the British National Anthem is thoroughly debunked in this 5,500 word examination of the evidence.
Working from primary sources Alistair McConnachie discovers that the original 3 published verses of what became the British National Anthem are virtually the same as the 3 verses of the National Anthem today.

amen · 06-01-2017 03:23PM

She is also the defender of the faith and the head of her own religion.

Actually the initial Defender of the Faith title was bestowed on Henry VIII by Pope Leo X and refers to Henrys defending the Roman Catholic Faith.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fidei_defensor

Fratton Fred · 06-01-2017 03:24PM

StudentDad wrote: »

After reading some of the replies to this thread, maybe we could re-title it as: You're Not Irish if ...

you don't support Celtic?

RasTa · 06-01-2017 03:24PM

She should be forced to repay whatever the OCI paid for her trip to Rio.

maudgonner · 06-01-2017 03:26PM

RasTa wrote: »

She should be forced to repay whatever the OCI paid for her trip to Rio.

Really, you want to open that can of worms?...

diomed · 06-01-2017 03:26PM

She has my permission to sail for the UK.

Mr. FoggPatches · 06-01-2017 03:29PM

Amid all this hullabaloo of whether she's a traitor or is she dead right, I'm sat here wondering if her nickname is 'bang'?

Fratton Fred · 06-01-2017 03:29PM

in reality, she should have gone to Germany.

As Annalise Murphy said, their sailors get an Audi TT, she got a Mr Tayto statue:D

super_furry · 06-01-2017 03:29PM

RasTa wrote: »

She should be forced to repay whatever the OCI paid for her trip to Rio.

Why? She fulfilled her obligations there and competed for Ireland.

bucketybuck · 06-01-2017 03:29PM

I hope she wins gold in Tokyo and holds up a big banner that says **** you to all the petty little nationalists that had a problem with her decision.

mickstupp · 06-01-2017 03:29PM

pure.conya wrote: »

No because the English competing for us is one thing, but going and competing for a nation that occupied our country, stole 6 of our counties while deliberately stirring the troubles up and murdered so many innocent men women and children is a whole different kettle of fish

Definitely not hypocritical..................

Pac1Man · 06-01-2017 03:31PM

Shocking decision.

TommyRiordan · 06-01-2017 03:34PM

Stupid place to post this among bitter middle-aged lower middle class southerners who are on their knees for british arse more than my prod gf is. Go to a proper website to post this.

Bandage · 06-01-2017 03:37PM

I'm struggling to keep my emotions in check here.

Tom Mann Centuria · 06-01-2017 03:44PM

Will she wear a poppy?

Tbh I don't care but it's the natural extension for the usual suspects (still waiting on a few, they mustn't have got the batsignal yet) to get excited about.

super_furry · 06-01-2017 03:46PM

TommyRiordan wrote: »

Stupid place to post this among bitter middle-aged lower middle class southerners who are on their knees for british arse more than my prod gf is. Go to a proper website to post this.

Yaaaaaarrr! Altogether now, "Come out ye Black and Tans, come out and fight me like a man!!!!"

Mr. FoggPatches · 06-01-2017 03:46PM

TommyRiordan wrote: »

Stupid place to post this among bitter middle-aged lower middle class southerners who are on their knees for british arse more than my prod gf is. Go to a proper website to post this.

You're doing oral sex wrong.

Tom Mann Centuria · 06-01-2017 03:48PM

super_furry wrote: »

Yaaaaaarrr! Altogether now, "Come out ye Black and Tans, come out and fight me like a man!!!!"

Mr. FoggPatches wrote: »

You're doing oral sex wrong.

I couldn't really understand that post so fair play to both of you for deciphering it.

corner of hells · 06-01-2017 03:51PM

As we're in full outrage mode I'd just like to point out that CJ Stander is South African and Jamie Heaslip was born in Israel.

inforfun · 06-01-2017 03:51PM

She is lucky she has the option to go there.
No one up to Olympic standards here to join her, would have meant she wouldnt be able to participate in Tokyo for Ireland either.
So, Ireland doesnt miss out on anything.

Mr. FoggPatches · 06-01-2017 03:52PM

corner of hells wrote: »

As we're in full outrage mode I'd just like to point out that CJ Stander is South African and Jamie Heaslip was born in Israel.

Rugby. No one cares. This is sailing FFS!!!!

super_furry · 06-01-2017 03:55PM

Mr. FoggPatches wrote: »

Rugby. No one cares. This is sailing FFS!!!!

Exactly, who care what those posh rugby lads get up to? It's the working class spectacle of sailing that really gets people's hearts racing. Just ask anyone down at the Royal Dun Laoghaire Yacht Club or the Royal St George Yacht Club!

06-01-2017 03:56PM

inforfun wrote: »

She is lucky she has the option to go there.
No one up to Olympic standards here to join her, would have meant she wouldnt be able to participate in Tokyo for Ireland either.
So, Ireland doesnt miss out on anything.

That seems to be it alright, it mustn't be a very popular type of sailing in Ireland if they can't get one more girl over 8 years

irish sailor switches to Team GB for Tokyo olympics

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