Great Britain in Olympics (home, associations, title)

[Yeledaf]

As an American, I am curious as to why the athletes from the UK are all identified as competing for "Great Britain" in the Olympic games, since in many other international competitions, teams from England, Scotland and Wales often compete separately.

Help a Yank understand. Thanks!

[Chatter]

Originally Posted by Yeledaf

As an American, I am curious as to why the athletes from the UK are all identified as competing for "Great Britain" in the Olympic games, since in many other international competitions, teams from England, Scotland and Wales often compete separately.

Help a Yank understand. Thanks!

The full title is Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The International Olympic Commitee only allow one team per country and GB & NI or the UK as it is more commonly termed is one nation.

You also have some bizzare groups calling for a European Olympic Team.

http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5iMvGF9tTYVhHUAp3V8DR1PTS5FXQ (broken link)

As for football etc, The International Football Associations have diffrent rules worked out with the English, Scottish, Welsh and NI Football Associations. The English, Scots, Welsh and Irish teams are known as the Home Nations in Rugby Union but there is also a British & Irish Rugby Union Team known as the British and Irish Lions.

http://www.lionsrugby.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_and_Irish_Lions

In Cricket we have a Team representing England & Wales, and in Golf we have European Ryder Cup Team, so there is no one steadfast rule, and differing rules, governing bodies and traditions all come in to play.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England_cricket_team

http://www.rydercup.com/2008/index.html

Btw the term Great Britain is geographic and refers to the greater or larger island of the two main islands that constitute the British Isles.












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[Yeledaf]

Originally Posted by Chatter

The full title is Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The International Olympic Commitee only allow one team per country and GB & NI or the UK as it is more commonly termed is one nation.

You also have some bizzare groups calling for a European Olympic Team.

http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5iMvGF9tTYVhHUAp3V8DR1PTS5FXQ

As for football etc, The International Football Associations have diffrent rules worked out with the English, Scottish, Welsh and NI Football Associations. The English, Scots, Welsh and Irish teams are known as the Home Nations in Rugby Union but there is also a British & Irish Rugby Union Team known as the British and Irish Lions.

The British & Irish Lions : Home

British and Irish Lions - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In Cricket we have a Team representing England & Wales, and in Golf we have European Ryder Cup Team, so there is no one steadfast rule, and differing rules, governing bodies and traditions all come in to play.

England cricket team - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ryder Cup 2008 » The Official Site of the 37th Ryder Cup Matches

Btw the term Great Britain is geographic and refers to the greater or larger island of the two main islands that constitute the British Isles.

I was aware of the geographic meaning of the term Great Britain and its inclusion of Northen Ireland, but unaware of the numerous regulations governing team identity in differing sports

Thanks for the information and links.

[geeoro]

In the 2012 Olympics we will have a Great British Football team. When we compete normally we have the different nations competing in sport. England,Scotland,Wales & Northern Ireland. We do compete as a Whole Nation in Certain Sports on top of each individual nation. Rugby has the British Lions.

[richt71]

Originally Posted by geeoro

In the 2012 Olympics we will have a Great British Football team. When we compete normally we have the different nations competing in sport. England,Scotland,Wales & Northern Ireland. We do compete as a Whole Nation in Certain Sports on top of each individual nation. Rugby has the British Lions.

I thought the different football assocaitions had blocked this? If we compete as 1 team in football (GB) then there may be knock on effects to playing as GB in future rather than countries.

[LINCOLNSHIRE]

Originally Posted by richt71

I thought the different football assocaitions had blocked this? If we compete as 1 team in football (GB) then there may be knock on effects to playing as GB in future rather than countries.

I reckon you`re right there Rich...As I remember that`s the reason that always stopped it happening in the past...