Question About Team GB

[Count Duckula]

Does it include Northern Irish athletes? I've not seen any mention of whether it does or not. Or do Northern Irish athletes compete for Ireland?

 

[mjs020294]

GB is England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, aka the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

 

[Count Duckula]

Fair enough. Why do we call ourselves Great Britain then, rather than the United Kingdom?

 

[mjs020294]

Not sure really. Maybe because it has the word GREAT in it.

 

[Count Duckula]

Not sure really. Maybe because it has the word GREAT in it.

Probably

 

[reddevilcanada]

I think the NI athletes can choose whether to compete for GB or the republic.

 

[mjs020294]

I think the NI athletes can choose whether to compete for GB or the republic.

Is that true? I have never heard that before. Why would they be able to, its tow completely different countries.

 

[2Bullish]

Jesus Duck are you British?

 

[reddevilcanada]

Is that true? I have never heard that before. Why would they be able to, its tow completely different countries.

i heard that during the opening ceremony, but here's what wiki says:

Athletes from Northern Ireland who also hold Irish citizenship under the pre-1999 article 2 of the Irish constitution can be selected to represent either Great Britain or Ireland at the Olympics.

 

[mjs020294]

Ok, so they have to hold dual nationality, that makes sense. I am British/American, so I could pick between the two......now if we can just get synchronized pub crawling on the schedule I might have to make the decision which country to crawl for.

 

[Count Duckula]

Jesus Duck are you British?

Yeh, I am. Why?

 

[Nearco]

I think one of the cyclists who won a medal is an Ulsterman.

 

[68-99-08]

Paddy Barnes is from Belfast and representing Ireland