I wonder how I’d feel if I were a unionist and part of Team GB at the Olympics. I’d have the fun of waving the Union flag and getting cheered for doing it, I’d be with my fellow-citizens of the UK, I’d feel a part of something bigger than myself…
Whoa a minute. As Joe Brolly might say “Houl’ on, sir!” ‘A part of something bigger than myself’? Then how come my part isn’t in the name? ‘Great Britain’ (a slightly embarrassing title) is used to describe the people of England, Wales and Scotland. What commentators are supposed to do is stick on ‘and Northern Ireland’ at the end of ‘Team GB’. Most of the time they don’t bother. It looks awkward, it reminds people of Ian Paisley and bloodshed and hunger strikes and uneasy peaces. So while no one in the UK would deny NEI its place, it’s all a bit embarrassing as well as unwieldy.
Team Ireland has no such add-ons. It is what it says on the Olympic tin -athletes from Ireland. The performance of people like Daniel Wiffen and Rhys McClenaghan have been wonderful and hailed on every side.Mind you, B(ritish)BC presenters have frequently cited them as ‘Northern Ireland’ gold medallists. Geographically accurate – yes, they have gold medals and they are from NEI – but they gained their medals under the banner of Ireland, not Northern Ireland. And they did so freely, no one was strong-arming them to be part of Team Ireland.
They say you shouldn’t mix sport and politics,but I’m afraid they’re already inextricably linked.Team Ireland shows what can be achieved when Ireland competes as one.
It took me a while to work out the difference between Great Britain and the United Kingdom. Once I had figured it out, it was easy! It explains the problems Britain had with Brexit for example. Brexit refers to the island of Britain leaving the EU. Had our British neighbours been overly concerned about the six counties (ha!) they would have called it Ukexit. As for the Olympics, the BBC can’t help themselves.