Everybody else in the family is at the Commonwealth Games, so why aren't we?

Reekwind · 26-07-2014 08:04PM

Fratton Fred wrote: »

It's relevant to those taking part.

Yet the suggestion in this thread is that we reverse over half a century of foreign policy and rejoin the Commonwealth so that a handful of competitors in minority sports can have their moment in the sun.

kingchess · 26-07-2014 08:04PM

Skylinehead wrote: »

Who would that be in this odd little family?

I wonder did he mean Scotland and their upcoming vote ?? thinking they are morally superior

efb · 26-07-2014 08:05PM

Reekwind wrote: »

Yet the suggestion in this thread is that we reverse over half a century of foreign policy and rejoin the Commonwealth so that a handful of competitors in minority sports can have their moment in the sun.

What harm?

Maphisto · 26-07-2014 08:08PM

Reekwind wrote: »

Yet the suggestion in this thread is that we reverse over half a century of foreign policy and rejoin the Commonwealth so that a handful of competitors in minority sports can have their moment in the sun.

So what and possibly in the rain

Speak Now · 26-07-2014 08:13PM

Lets play Shinty.

Duckworth_Luas · 26-07-2014 08:18PM

efb wrote: »

No golf in CG

This is an outrage! :mad:

No golf, no snooker, no darts, no tiddlywinks, no snap!

No leapfrog FFS!

Maphisto · 26-07-2014 08:18PM

Jerry Seinfeld wrote: »

Lets play Shinty.

I always found Kabaddi good to watch.

twinytwo · 26-07-2014 08:25PM

Mint Sauce wrote: »

Horse riding is not a commonwealth event, so that pretty much rules out our best chance of a medal even if we were to compete.

Anyhow, surely if our sporting stars really wanted to take part, I'm sure there would be some ruling that would allow them to compete under NI.

Eh.. boxing?

kneemos · 26-07-2014 08:25PM

If you enjoy a massacre NZ are playing Barbados in rugby sevens.

A Dub in Glasgo · 26-07-2014 08:27PM

Duckworth_Luas wrote: »

This is an outrage! :mad:

No golf, no snooker, no darts, no tiddlywinks, no snap!

No leapfrog FFS!

None of the above but it does have all these ones

Glasgow 2014 Sports

There are 17 sports on the program - 10 of these sports are core sports (they are always played) and 7 have been selected by the host city from a choice of sixteen. Compared to the previous Games in Delhi, the sports of Basketball and Judo have been added, and Archery and Tennis dropped from the program.
2014 Sports List

Aquatics (Swimming and Diving)
Athletics
Badminton
Boxing
Cycling (Road, Mountain and Track)
Gymnastics (Artistic and Rhythmic)
Hockey
Judo
Lawn Bowls
Netball
Rugby 7s
Shooting
Squash
Table Tennis
Triathlon
Weightlifting
Wrestling

twinytwo · 26-07-2014 08:28PM

LordSutch wrote: »

'Nearly' every country in the world who has even the slightest connection to Britain is there competing in every sport represented, from boxing to athletics, to karate, to rugby, horse riding, shooting, and swimming, yet the ROI is completly absent, leaving NI to go it alone as usual :mad:

Yes, I know the reasons well, and I know that I will probably get a massive backlash for even suggesting that we should be rubbing shoulders with the Welsh, the Scots, the English, Canadians, Aussies, Indians etc etc, but I still can't help thinking that here we are (the closest of all to Britain) yet still sulking & absent as usual since about 1959, when some drunken Dail politician decided on the spur of the moment that "Ireland had now left the commonwealth".

Personally I think we should rejoin for no other reason than to be able to participate in the games. There would of course be a lot of trade opportunities with other CW countries too, that might also come into play with such connections. I think its been a disgrace that we have been absent from the commonwealth family for so long.

What say you?

Sits in bunker with pith helmet on, waiting for the artillery shells to rain in

Rejoining the commonwealth and everything it stands for, just to compete in some sporting event is fairly stupid.

I'd rather nuke the country first.

efb · 26-07-2014 08:31PM

twinytwo wrote: »

Rejoining the commonwealth and everything it stands for, just to compete in some sporting event is fairly stupid.

I'd rather nuke the country first.

And that's definitely not stupid

Nodin · 26-07-2014 08:31PM

twinytwo wrote: »

Rejoining the commonwealth and everything it stands for, just to compete in some sporting event is fairly stupid.

I'd rather nuke the country first.

Tad extreme there oul flower.

Galwayguy35 · 26-07-2014 08:34PM

I wonder does anyone from the Nationalist side in NI take part?

blinding · 26-07-2014 08:38PM

twinytwo wrote: »

Rejoining the commonwealth and everything it stands for, just to compete in some sporting event is fairly stupid.

I'd rather nuke the country first.

Which country ?

And where are you storing the nukes ?

Beasty · 26-07-2014 08:38PM

This is the 2nd time I've attended the Commonwealth Games (first was Manchester in 2002). I was also in London for the Olympics (note 2012, not 1948!) and indeed Paralympics. All were fabulous events. The Commonwealths though are known as the "Friendly Games" for good reason. Everything is laid back. In some of the sports the overall standards are down slightly (indeed if I was fully fit I could probably qualify for one or two cycling events if I had the right passport!!).

The next games are in Australia, and I would love the chance to head off to the Gold Coast for a couple of weeks. Pretty much everyone attending speaks English and the banter with a lot of people who may have travelled half way across the world to see the games can be great.

efb · 26-07-2014 08:38PM

Galwayguy35 wrote: »

I wonder does anyone from the Nationalist side in NI take part?

Paddy Barnes and Michael Conlan anyway

efb · 26-07-2014 08:40PM

wazky wrote: »

Joining the commonwealth to take part in a non-competition?, a bit silly really.

The nuking the country bit

efb · 26-07-2014 08:40PM

blinding wrote: »

Which country ?

And where are you storing the nukes ?

In his basement

wazky · 26-07-2014 08:40PM

efb wrote: »

The nuking the country bit

Yes I deleted my post after I re-read the comments, my mistake!

MRnotlob606 · 26-07-2014 08:46PM

By participating we would be acknowledging a colonial club where many of the participant countries have the Queen has head of state which is archaic and undemocratic. I'ts better we continue our non-alignment.

26-07-2014 08:48PM

MRnotlob606 wrote: »

I'ts better we continue our non-alignment.

As part of the EU!!!! :pac:

Balmed Out · 26-07-2014 08:54PM

An Claidheamh wrote: »

But you do have to accept the British monarch as head of the British commonwealth.

Its no longer the British Commonwealth just the commonwealth and while the queen is head at the moment her successor wont necessarily be, most countries in the commonwealth are republics and others have their own monarchs as head of state. Im not really in favour of joining but there's a lot in this thread that isn't true.

Spook_ie · 26-07-2014 09:00PM

Wonder what people would say if Belfast was a venue, complain incessantly that competitors from here couldn't compete I suppose

LordSutch · 26-07-2014 09:29PM

blinding wrote: »

In fairness you don't hear to many of our athletes expressing views that they want to compete at the commonwealth games .

If they want to i wouldn't be against it .

Sonia O'Sullivan was up for it a few years ago and had decided to take out Australian citizenship so that she could compete, but age and injury interveined and the opportunity never came. I seem to remember that she got equal stick and praise here when she announced her intentions.

http://www.redfm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/sonia.jpg

wazky · 26-07-2014 09:30PM

LordSutch wrote: »

Sonia O'Sullivan

http://www.redfm.ie/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/sonia.jpg

According to the picture she should have declared for the Ivory Coast.

Karl Stein · 26-07-2014 09:33PM

The 'Commonwealth' is a relic of the long passed British Empire and has become increasingly meaningless as the memory of Britain's imperial past fades.

Britain has greater economic ties with Europe than it does with the majority of its former vassal states and colonies.

A Romanian has easier access to Britain than the vast majority of commonwealth citizens.

A Dub in Glasgo · 26-07-2014 09:34PM

wazky wrote: »

According to the picture she should have declared for the Ivory Coast.

Maybe she was holding it up for the people behind her :pac:

GaelMise · 26-07-2014 10:04PM

LordSutch wrote: »

'Nearly' every country in the world who has even the slightest connection to Britain is there competing in every sport represented, from boxing to athletics, to karate, to rugby, horse riding, shooting, and swimming, yet the ROI is completly absent, leaving NI to go it alone as usual :mad:

Yes, I know the reasons well, and I know that I will probably get a massive backlash for even suggesting that we should be rubbing shoulders with the Welsh, the Scots, the English, Canadians, Aussies, Indians etc etc, but I still can't help thinking that here we are (the closest of all to Britain) yet still sulking & absent as usual since about 1959, when some drunken Dail politician decided on the spur of the moment that "Ireland had now left the commonwealth".

Personally I think we should rejoin for no other reason than to be able to participate in the games. There would of course be a lot of trade opportunities with other CW countries too, that might also come into play with such connections. I think its been a disgrace that we have been absent from the commonwealth family for so long.

What say you?

Sits in bunker with pith helmet on, waiting for the artillery shells to rain in

We broke that connection

LordSutch · 26-07-2014 10:25PM

GaelMise wrote: »

We broke that connection

"We" didn't, but some drunk Dail politician did

A big mstake that needs to be put right.

Everybody else in the family is at the Commonwealth Games, so why aren't we?

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