WHERE DID THE UK GO?
Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 09:33AM 
I am pleased to see the British success at the Olympics, though like Mahons I too am operating a one man semi-boycott even though the rest of the family ignore me! However amidst all this Brit medal glory, I have a problem. We constantly hear of the success of Team GB. But my question is; whatever happened to Team UK?
There are athletes competing from England, Wales, Scotland and yes..Northern Ireland. So it is a truly UNITED KINGDOM team that is out there and yet it is habitually referred to as Team GB. GB stands for Great Britain which is England, Scotland and Wales. Do you see the insult this nomenclature represents? Northern Ireland athletes are as much of the team as those from any other home nation - so why do we let this pass? I congratulate ALL British athletes - and I wish that we did not all go along with this GB nonsense when in truth this is a UK team and we should demand it is called Team UK.
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Reader Comments (92)
David
It's rare we disagree, but we'll have to on this occasion. Here are just two reasons:
1. Although Great Britain is the geographical term for England, Scotland and Wales, politically/offically GB is perfectly adequate to refer to the whole UK.
For example, letters posted in Northern Ireland still have the 'Great Britain - Postage Paid' frank on them.
2. The Team GB website makes it absolutely clear on its website:
www.olympics.org.uk/contentpage.aspx?page=127...
that Team GB covers both Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
I happen to think Team GB is a nicer name than 'Team UK'. If you really want to get annoyed about something, concentrate on the disgusting, treacherous decision by Belfast boxer, Patrick Barnes, to fight for the Irish Olympic Team.
On a positive note, it comes to something when the first team medal for a country goes to someone born outside that country. Let's hope the traiterous little bleeder gets an absolute hammering in the final.
David,
As far as I know, the name of the team is "Great Britain and Northern Ireland" and they just call it Team GB for short - I don't think any offence to unionists is intended.
Congratulations to Paddy Barnes - he has done Belfast and Ireland proud.
And hopefully he can turn that Bronze into a Gold. Congrats to Kenny Egan and hopefully Darren Sutherland can gain a third Medal.
Bollocks to that comment about Paddy Barnes.
I, for one, am 100% behind him as he strives for Gold.
He'd no qualms representing Northern Ireland at the Commonwealth Games in 2006,.
'I, for one, am 100% behind him as he strives for Gold.'
And nobody seeks to deny you that right. I don't regard him as anything other than a traitor.
Here's to a worthy defeat!
>>Although Great Britain is the geographical term for England, Scotland and Wales, politically/offically GB is perfectly adequate to refer to the whole UK.<<
Rubbish, "Great Britain" refers legally to the Island of Britain and its islands, etc., it does NOT include Northern Ireland. "The United Kingdom of Great Britain AND Northern Ireland" is what's written on your passport.
The name of the team just reflects the perception of the majority of British people. The team, the country, the government, etc. are those of Britain and Britain only. Northern Ireland is a place apart and all the Irish, north and south, are Paddies.
>>Let's hope the traiterous little bleeder gets an absolute hammering in the final.<<
Congratulations to Paddy Barnes for his Olympic medal and for getting Andrew into such a seething rage.
Seamus,
Aye, Sutherland looks a good prospect as well.
iluvni,
There seems to be a tradition of northern boxers fighting for Ireland in the Olympics and Northern Ireland in the Commonwealths regardless of which side they come from (Wayne McCullough being an example from t'other side).
Andrew, in his ignorance, wouldn't know that.
Noel Cunningham -
Thanks for telling me what I and my fellow Britons think, but that's nonsense.
Andrew's 10.11am has it right, even the squad website is explicit that 'Team GB' is a United Kingdom team. 'Team GB' is just a tag. It can't even be said that foreigners recognise 'GB' more than 'UK' in these circumstances (Royaume Uni - dix points anyone?) It's just a bit of branding that rolls off the tongue easily.
Noel
'...and for getting Andrew into such a seething rage.'
Somebody hurting my family gets me into a seething rage. Everything else comes under 'mildly annoying.
'There seems to be a tradition of northern boxers fighting for Ireland...'
This is not about the Belfast Agreement, history, entitlement or anything else, it's about personal opinion.
Mine stands and remains unalterable.
"If you really want to get annoyed about something, concentrate on the disgusting, treacherous decision by Belfast boxer, Patrick Barnes, to fight for the Irish Olympic Team."
I take it that you're equally outraged by that Jamaican bloke who won a silver in the high jump for GB yesterday.
Andrew is correct in his overall summary and as far as Britons are concerned it includes England Scotland Ireland and Wales and represents no insult at all. It also says so on the site.
Andrew when are you going to start writing for ATW again (now you seem back more)?
The proper name of the team referred to as GB is GB and Northern Ireland. I would prefer it to be called UK, but as long as it isn't actually just the GB team, I don't actually mind.
We do seem to be doing well :o)
Go us!!!
Aileen: That last line is a Freudian slip for Go U.S.!
The happy reports of the Brits success in these Olympics haven't escaped me, despite my fruitless yet noble boycott (when do the games end? Budweiser's profit margin is declining as I continue to abstain from it due to its sponsorship, and I seek to be reunited with my beer of choice).
Think if you hadn't shipped all those Aussies to the penal colony you might all be leading even the Chinese now!
I'm not boycotting, but am not watching because I could care less.
Yesterday, flipped by NBC and saw some tykes doing something on a balance beam or whatever. What the hell was the point of that said I.
I grabbed a Brooklyn Beer ( try that mahons ) and turned to the Yankees game to watch Johnny Damon drop a fly ball in centerfield, his second such error of the night.
Better to watch the worst baseball game ever than to watch the Olympics with all that country vs country backdrop. Who cares?
Over 100 million people care Phantom. Current viewing figures on Eurosport alone. Bravo China!
The beam gymnasts are absolutely sensational. Slightly more skill required for any of that than dropping a flyball. Though the expression 'who cares' is equally uttered by a good many more when it comes to American football.
Actually, you probably find more people watch American Football than the Paedophile's dream that is Gymnastics. It might take skill but it isn't a Sport.
Alison
I swim against the tide.
Another event I often avoid is the Super Bowl.The only thing worse than soccer, the sport where nothing ever happens, is American football, with its ultraviolence and endless commercial breaks.
Baseball is the only proper sport, I'm telling you. A spring training game has far greater appeal for me than the Hitler Olypics or the Genocide Games or whatever they're playing now.
And yes, I'll bet Gary Glitter was watching the gymnasts. They let him out of jail right on time.
"I grabbed a Brooklyn Beer ( try that mahons ) and turned to the Yankees game to watch Johnny Damon drop a fly ball in centerfield, his second such error of the night."
You should change to a good team like the Red Sox. Then you wouldn't be so disappointed.
"Another event I often avoid is the Super Bowl.The only thing worse than soccer is American football, with its violence and endless breaks for commercials."
I have a problem with that. I quite Baseball. It's a decent Sport. But it is not a patch on either American Football or Soccer. And neither of them are as good as Rugby. And Rugby pales into insignifigance against Gaelic and Hurling.
* Should read "I quite like Baseball"
I don't dislike the Sox that much. The Red Sox nation have a great tradition for sure. And I have attended two games at Fenway Park, which was wonderful.
I tried to like soccer, I really did. But the lack of scoring and the endless incidents of players faking injuries just made it unwatchable. They should have an instant death penalty with a gallows at midfield for any player found trying to draw a penalty by faking an injury. That might clean up that sport.
Hurling is a terrific game--pity no one outside Ireland ever gets to see it.
Before I die I want to watch a game live in Fenway Park, The Garden and the new Lucas Oil Stadium.
"I tried to like soccer, I really did. But the lack of scoring and the endless incidents of players faking injuries just made it unwatchable. They should have an instant death penalty with a gallows at midfield for any player found trying to draw a penalty by faking an injury. That might clean up that sport."
It is much slower than most the games I like. I was watching the All-Ireland Semi Final in Hurling on Sunday and switching back and forth to the Man Utd game and it was like switching between Usain Bolt running the 100m to and old Granny running the Marathon.
And the cheating bit agrevates me as well, but it has unfortunately become part of the game.
Mahons
"Aileen: That last line is a Freudian slip for Go U.S.!"
Ah but Go where and do what? ;o)
"Think if you hadn't shipped all those Aussies to the penal colony you might all be leading even the Chinese now!"
They still have the Union Flag on their flag and we have the same Queen
*hums "Rule Britannia fair Dinkum"
You mean the World Series Phantom? ;P
Cricket's better.
Hmm. If you want to take it down that route Seamus there isn't anything much...gayer possibly than American football when I think about sports emphasising assets. I assume the pre season is used for stretching the lycra over one's gonads.
Gymnastics takes incredible skill. I would like to see you try it guys. I'd wager any jerk could kick a football, hit a baseball ( rounders we played at school, easy game) but not likely chuck a bunch of somersaults on a 3 inch wide bar and live to see another day.
Re the gymnastics. It's only a paedos dream if you think that way. I wasn't watching much less thinking about how others view their crotches.
Very Good Aileen, Her Majesty's subjects may actually be ahead then. Hope and Glory indeed!
It warms my heart to also note Christine Ohuruogu's great success on behalf of the Brits - a child of Nigerian immigrants - the BNP loonies who visit here from time to time must be crying in their sheets.
"Cricket's better."
Cricket is a shite, pathetic excuse for a Sport.
"Hmm. If you want to take it down that route Seamus there isn't anything much...gayer possibly than American football when I think about sports emphasising assets. I assume the pre season is used for stretching the lycra over one's gonads."
Yes, trying to memorise Offensive Routes, Blocking Routines, Blitzes, and everything else that American Footballers do is easy, especially when get hit by 20 Stone of muscle, is gay. There I though "Sports" like Dressage were gay.
"Gymnastics takes incredible skill. I would like to see you try it guys."
So do most Sports. Soccer takes incredible skill. American Football takes incredible skill, Gaelic and Hurling take incredible skill. They, with exceptions of Soccer, are all Contact Sports as well, so you have to be skillful while getting the shite knocked out of you.
Seamus,
My favourite sports to watch are:
1) Gaelic Football (probably not as exciting as hurling but I grew up with it & its much more competitive)
2) Hurling (untouchable at its best - the Waterford v Tipp match on Sunday was incredible)
3) Soccer (but a lot less than before - Sky showing Wigan v Man City would make me reach for the remote)
4) Rugby (the 6 Nations and Heineken Cup are great but wouldn't watch anything else)
5) Golf (but only the majors and other big tournaments)
6) Baseball (have a sneaking regard for the Red Sox - but can only watch it in small doses).
I don't like cricket or ice-hockey and can't stand basketball.
Cricket is a wonderful relaxing and enjoyable sport.
Yes, lycra on a man is gay. So are helmets. (And the stop start stop start is tedious). Rugby is superior. But I enjoy watching the Superbowl final.
You have to be skillful to turn several somersaults on a 3 inch bar Seamus. Trying to remember all the rules that go with all sports isn't skillful it's a necessity. And all sports have them. Even gymnastics.
Mahons
"It warms my heart to also note Christine Ohuruogu's great success on behalf of the Brits - a child of Nigerian immigrants - the BNP loonies who visit here from time to time must be crying in their sheets."
Indeed :o) Bit like Hitler getting a bit peeved because of the sucess of black athletes. He was less than keen to hand out the medals.
One of the things that I took great pleasure in when England were doing well in the football were the numbers of young black people "sporting" the flag. I remember a b;ack taxi driver getting stuck into Ken Livingston about some dictat that cabs shouldn't fly the the England flag.
"Yes, lycra on a man is gay. So are helmets."
I refer you to your comments on Chris Hoy.
And who can forget that the Brits gave the Olympics its greatest athlete ever, I refer of course to Eddie "The Eagle" Edwards.
"You have to be skillful to turn several somersaults on a 3 inch bar Seamus. Trying to remember all the rules that go with all sports isn't skillful it's a necessity. And all sports have them. Even gymnastics."
No one is denying that Gymnastics is skillful. But you also have to be skillful in Hurling when scoring a point by Pocing a Sliotar 65 Metres while being hassled by a huge beast of a man and potentially get hit by a big fucking stick.
"Cricket is a wonderful relaxing and enjoyable sport."
It is as relaxing and enjoyable as watching Paint Dry. And Paint dries faster.
Alison -
I enjoy a bit of gymnastics too. It's not 'exciting' in the way that someone sticking the ball in the net from 30 yards gets you out of your seat, but then that's not the point. I watch it more out of fascination at what humans are capable of.
If those ladies spinning and flipping up and down a beam the width of a rolling pin, or a man doing what they do on the floor or the rings doesn't have you in wonder then nothing will.
OK you lot - I am no longer outraged of Donacloney on this point! I take your points and can see GB is not an insult!
Lycra on Chris Hoy looks a little dodgy, Seamus, yep but serves a purpose, it makes him faster. Lycra instead of shorts on a pitch and helmets? Come on. So gay.
Pete
Yeah, I think what they do is out of this world amazing. No it's not as exciting as football. Real football, I agree. It was really just to answer Phantom's points.
Great to hear team GB on the telly (BBC)
Bryony Shaw had just become the first British woman to win a medal in windsurfing when she told the BBC: "I am so f****** happy".
Speaking afterwards, a tearful Shaw said: "I am just so happy. It was such a hard race and I had such a hard week. It's the best thing in the world.
"I love my mum and dad so much, they are so supportive. And my boyfriend Greg. My coach Tom is such a legend. I am so f****** happy.'
That says it all about NuLab GB.
Ah come on, Campbell,
She shouldn't have said it (and is probably embarrassed that she did) but she was obviously overjoyed. A bit of raw emotion is fair enough in my book.
Why does what she said in the heat of the moment rather than what any of the others said, much less the overall achievement become indicative of NuLabours GB? So silly.
"Lycra on Chris Hoy looks a little dodgy, Seamus, yep but serves a purpose, it makes him faster. Lycra instead of shorts on a pitch and helmets? Come on. So gay."
Considering that the majority of the scandals surrounding American Footballers is about them having too many kids on the side I think it is a bit funny to call them gay. Which is more gay, playing a man's game or riding around on a wee fucking bike.
"Yeah, I think what they do is out of this world amazing. No it's not as exciting as football. Real football, I agree. It was really just to answer Phantom's points."
There is no such thing as "real" football. Many different countries have a game called Football, and I would take Gaelic and American Football long before Soccer.
Alison
Hitting a baseball is perhaps the toughest thing to do in professional sports.
Anyone here could learn how to hit a ball that was lobbed in, surely.
But the problem a batter faces is that even a mediocre pitcher is a master of deception. He has many different ways of fooling the batter - by varying speed, location, his delivery (where he can make it look as though he is throwing one type of pitch, when he actually throws something else ), and other things-- at a distance that is only 60 feet 6 inches,so that the batter's reaction time is 0.45 seconds or so.
Michael Jordan was one of the greatest athletes ever. He accomplished everything he might have dreamed for in the NBA. He had the dream to play baseball, but despite a couple of years devoted to becoming a baseball pro, the effort ended in dismal failure.
He could field, throw, run the bases, but he couldn't hit the curve ball. Doesn't make him a bad guy. I couldn't hit it either.
We had Eddie the Eagle, you had Michelle Smith!
Before Atlanta nobody had ever heard of her, and no Irish swimmer had ever won a medal. She wins 3 golds? The yanks i believe kicked up a fuss about her and her husband. Ithink she was banned for 4 yearslater for failing a urine test later. Not since Paisley became first minister has there been such a transformation! I think Andrew is being very harsh on Paddy Barnes, while i would like to see all Northern Irelands athletes compete for us, there has been a long standing compromise of nationalists repredenting Northern Ireland at the Commonwealth games, and those from a Unionist background representing Ireland at the olympics. Team GB has slightly watered down the Northern Ireland commitment at this olympics. At the last olympics in Athens at National Anthem time it was refered too as the National Anthem of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. This time its just Great Britain!
Well even if Andy's wish re. Barnes comes true, it would give me great pleasure to see the other 2 Irish semi-finalist beat the shite out of their British opponents :)
t warms my heart to also note Christine Ohuruogu's great success on behalf of the Brits - a child of Nigerian immigrants - the BNP loonies who visit here from time to time must be crying in their sheets.
Excuse me but where do all your black athletes come from Mahons...Iceland. Give me a break. A gold was won for US by a woman hurling something..but she had British parents and a British passport.Your eight gold medal swimmer has a real English name Phelps but he's American right!
Football has a phenomenal following, worthy of it or not but it is a world following, as much as the Americans like to call their boring, stopping every five second game a world sport it is not. Baseball is rounders an old outdated English game.
As for GB it is as everybody says GB & Northern Ireland it does not have to be said...it follows. UK is a trumped up name unworthy of anything.
C'mon Maggie
Baseball is one of the most widely played games in the world.
I can't blame the Brits, Paraguayans and Madagascans for liking soccer. The poor dears just don't know any better. With a little education, we can bring them up to speed and introduce them to real sports.
Maggie - You are seeing issues where there are none. I am quite happy to hear of the British success and was not playing down Ms. Ohuruogu's accomplishments, just recognizing that some of the crazies who sometimes fly by ATW would be uncomfortable with her pedigree. It is a tribute to her and to GB that she is such a fantastic athlete & representative. I am equally happy for the U.S. athletes whatever their background, we are a nation of immigrants after all.
Oh Phantom, you poor lonely man, hopefully you will wake up and start to learn the niceties of playing/watching football, the heroics, the fouls, the acting, the sexy strip, the opera played before world cup matches..it is truly 'the beautiful game'. Baseball on the other hand pales into insignificance played by men in pyjamas wearing a helmet with an earpiece missing..oh cummon!
You made it an issue Mahons
" am equally happy for the U.S. athletes whatever their background, we are a nation of immigrants after all." as indeed GB is now!!
Anyway I am delighted with the performance of all Team GB and can't wait for the party in London - it will be a blast whatever the weather!
Maggie
Take the next flight to NYC. I will convert you, I promise.
Maggie - but not in the way you misapprehended as is your custom. In fact, if there was an Olympic Event for unnecessary antagonism, you would have the Gold!
Thankyou for that Mahons I aim to please...Convert me to what The Phantom religion maybe but baseball never. On the other hand have just seen England are 1 nil down in their first 'friendly' international so maybe you have a point!
Well done Maggie. Unless the entire Team GB is black all of a sudden? I thought that was an entirely unnecessary moronic comment too. GB doesn't have black people? They still think we're all BNP and bowler hats thanks to ATW.
And Maggie - the fact that football, real football, involves the world and about 15 billion quids worth of TV advertising is why the yanks get their knickers in a twist about their sports coming in a poor second! ;)
Mahons: If Maggie gets gold for entirely understanding your smug comment correctly, you would have come in last.. for boycotts.