Why is your Olympic team called Great Britain?

[BCWWF]

Shouldn't it be United Kingdom? Or does it not include Northern Ireland?

From my understanding, Great Britain is the name of the island that includes England, Scotland and Wales, and then the actual name of the country was United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Somebody fill me in.

Also discuss if Alex Ferguson will lead a Team GB in 2012, and if it will have Scots and Welshmen on it.

[BCWWF]

?????

[#BROKEN Hasney]

!!!!!

[Ogen]

They'll have to put Scottish and Welsh players in to keep everyone happy despite the fact it will more than likely make the team worse.

[#BROKEN Hasney]

Craig Gordon to keep the Scots happy and..... um.... Someone from Wales

[The Mackem]

The Olympic team is called Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The official name is The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland but that is obviously a bit too long. I think the reason why they disregard the United Kingdom bit in favour of the end is probably more to do with that it used to be The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until the 1920's.

Someone Irish could probably confirm but I suspect that the Irish would have hated being lumbered with the 'UK' name prior to the 1920's and Great Britain and Ireland may have been more acceptable to the Irish to compete under. When most of Ireland gained it's independence, it would make sense to keep it simply as Great Britain and Northern Ireland to stop any confusion.

That's how I see it anyway.

If you think you are being ignorant/stupid, don't worry I think half of our own country don't know what to call themselves. It's one of those quirky UK things.

[The Mackem]

As for the team

It would be a minefield, plus if it were put together successfully FIFA would probably push for a regular UK team. This could affect the status of the home FA's as being individual which in it's current state pisses off a lot of the footballing world.

I think Blatter in the past has dismissed that scenario but I think there is a lot of distrust which is why you see a bit of caution especially from Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Also, would you trust Blatter - he seems to go a bit crazy with his power at times

I figured a four team competition to see which team represents would be ideal. There would be absolutely no guarantee that England, although strong favourites, would win. Also you have to bear in mind that the Olympics are for Under 23's and is it three slots for over 23's? There is no guarantee who will have the best young side in a few years time. The Welsh have a lot of faith in Aaron Ramsey for instance, it could be a close competition if it were to happen. There is probably something I have overlooked but I thought it was a possibility.

[The Mackem]

LOL just looking and Craig Brown's counter to that is that FIFA could always turn round and say that we have to do exactly the same for the Euro Championships and World Cup.

There's obviously not going to be a single idea that will be accepted by all. Everyone wants to keep their identity. Craig Brown reckons we should all be allowed to compete individually at the London Olympics.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/7783592.stm

[Rob]

I don't wanna see a Team GB. Olympic Football is a load of bollocks anyway and it is only gonna allow FIFA to try and merge us all anyway. Bollocks to FIFA.

[BCWWF]

Olympic football really isn't that bad, it's really just the main tournament that Europe doesn't really try for. I mean, wasn't Belgium there in Beijing? But the South American, North American and African nations take it pretty seriously.

From talking to journalists when I was at the Olympics it sounded like there probably will be a Team GB for football, but like you guys have said, the individual federations would probably not agree to unite and it would end up being all English or Scottish or Welsh or Northern Irish.

[BCWWF]

What would a united GB Under-23 team with three overage players look like today?

[BCWWF]

------------------Gabriel Agbonlahor--Wayne Rooney------------------------

------Ashley Young--Tom Huddlestone--Theo Walcott--Aaron Lennon------

----David Wheater--Curtis Davies--Michael Mancienne--Micah Richards---

----------------------------Scott Carson (or Joe Hart)------------------------

Here's a sample 4-4-2 of all English guys under 23 right now

[Team Sheep]

Wales have some good young talent coming through. The Wales u21's team narrowly lost to England u21's in the playoff game 5-4 on aggregate to get to the European championship a couple of months ago.

[#BROKEN Hasney]

Obviously, neither side has promising defenders with that scoreline :(

[Rob]

Olympic football really isn't that bad, it's really just the main tournament that Europe doesn't really try for. I mean, wasn't Belgium there in Beijing? But the South American, North American and African nations take it pretty seriously.

From talking to journalists when I was at the Olympics it sounded like there probably will be a Team GB for football, but like you guys have said, the individual federations would probably not agree to unite and it would end up being all English or Scottish or Welsh or Northern Irish.

Those other nations certainly do not take it seriously. And there is absolutely no chance I'll support this team. It's not British for a start.

[ct2k]

I would happily discard Scottish players for starters, if only to see Rob get even more disgruntled

[BCWWF]

Lionel Messi missed Champions League qualifiers for Barca so he could be in that tournament. Both Brazil and Argentina had their top U-23 sides along with Ronaldinho for Brazil and Mascherano and Riquelme on Argentina. They were pretty loaded.

[Rob]

Won't disgruntle me at all. I would care exactly as little if the team was all Scottish.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

The Olympics is not a FIFA competition as far as I am aware, which is how Barcelona won the right to withold Messi from the Argentinian squad (think they allowed him to go anyway). Merging the FAs is a no-go, if anything the Northern Irish FA will eventually merge with the Irish, which makes sense in regards to that's what happens with rugby, cricket and hockey.

Also I think people from Northern Ireland can compete for Ireland in the Olympics. See Wayne McCullough.

[The Mackem]

Yes, they have the option of who they represent.

It's strange that the UK is generally accepted as the birthplace of football but we would not be represented at the Olympic games even though Europe doesn't really take the Olympic games tournament very seriously.

[Rob]

Remember, it wasn't that long ago that the Olympics didn't have professionals participating in the games. And I take this tournament as serious as the tennis one. Who the fuck cares who won Olympic medals in tennis? Do players dream about winning Wimbledon and the U.S Open or an Olympic medal?

[The Mackem]

While I agree completely with you Rob, I think they are trying to make both competitions more attractive. The men's singles in China was taken seriously in China by Nadal who won gold, Federer won a doubles gold as did the Williams sisters. China also carried ranking points for the ATP and WTA - so it has it's place.

The football tournament is prestigious to the South Americans and Africans. China had the Dutch, Italians and Belgium with decent teams. However, it's always going to be strange as long as it's for under 23's.

I think both torunaments will become more prestigious in future Olympic games.

[BCWWF]

North America puts a lot into it as well. Hugo Sanchez was sacked by Mexico for failing to qualify, and Brian McBride came out of international retirement to compete there. It's really only Europe that doesn't try very hard, which is probably because you guys don't need the big-time youth experience like other parts of the world does.

[Rob]

An under 23 tournament is never going to be taken seriously here. And it is just another competition that gets in the way of pre season. Plus the Olympics land on the same year as the European Championships so you are asking some countries to play in two tournaments in the same pre season. And there is no way we are gonna want to stop our leagues in mid start in September just to play in this two bob championship.

Down with Olympic Football.

[BCWWF]

England/Scotland/Wales/Northern Ireland wouldn't have had any trouble with two tournaments this summer anyway :p

Like I said though, I think the youth tournaments will always be taken most seriously outside of Europe. In England you guys have academies for each team and the best club programs in the world, so it's not like you're going to have many youths slip through the cracks. In the US for example though, we've got a lot of young guys that people are excited about, but they are all either young in MLS or else somewhere like Denmark, so we never see them.

I'm not arguing that you should care or that they will ever be taken seriously, but the Olympic football tournament is one of the biggest draws of the Games and South American, North American and African teams seem to take it somewhat seriously.

[Stickman]

Why can't England, Scotland, and Wales have their own teams?

[BCWWF]

Because they aren't separate countries. It'd almost be like New York and California having their own teams.

[Stickman]

Interesting, I always thought they were different countries.

[BCWWF]

And you're in the commonwealth!

But I also thought of another thing, why is she called the Queen of England? Is that just a casual shorthand reference, and she is really the Queen of the United Kingdom or the Queen of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?

[Rob Ban Fan]

<font color="#ff6600">England, Scotland and Wales are different countries.

The Queen's full styling is By the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith</font>

[BCWWF]

Wait, not sure if I understand that.

First, the distinction of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as separate countries isn't completely accurate. I know you'll hate this, but other than football and rugby competitions, the country is the UK. England, Scotland etc., are really more like states or provinces, but more influential than say Delaware or Regina.

[YOUR Hero]

NOT ONLY THAT, BUT THERE'S NOTHING 'GREAT' ABOUT THEM!!!1

[Rob Ban Fan]

<font color="#ff6600">No, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are definitely different countries. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own laws and all 3 of them have their own devolved national assembleys to deal with their national issues.

From wikipedia:

The United Kingdom is a unitary state consisting of four countries: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.</font>

[BCWWF]

Tbh I feel like that is more rhetoric than anything else. I mean, other than sport you are the UK. Granted each of the four has more independence than say the individual states in America or the provinces in Canada, but all things considered you are the UK in the EU and you have the British Army.

[Mike the Metal Ed]

Northern Ireland and the Republic, North and South Korea, Commonwealth of Independant States. A combined team is not the same as legal status as a country, which is what we're debating.

[BCWWF]

Wait what? Other than geography, Northern Ireland and Ireland; North Korea and South Korea have no political ties at all.

[Mike the Metal Ed]

They've also played as combined teams. Sometimes in minor sports, but they've all been approved by a governing body at some point.

[Ogen]

Yeah Irish rugby is a combined team

[El Capitano Gatisto]

And cricket and hockey. All other major team sports Ireland compete in internationally really aside from football, which makes absolutely no sense.

[BCWWF]

Wait, so I'm clear, Ireland and Northern Ireland compete together in rugby, cricket and (field) hockey?

[El Capitano Gatisto]

Yes. Rugby, football and field hockey are probably the 3 main international team sports. Football is the only one with separate national teams.

Gaelic sports, which are as big in Ireland, are, of course, ultimately competed on an All-Ireland basis.

It is only football which has this weird political issue over having one team. It's the way forward for our football teams. We're a small island with several popular sports competing for a small pool of talent. It makes sense for the football team to come from the whole island and pool the talent together. An Irish united football team would be quite a handy little side at the moment.

[BCWWF]

How does that work? I always thought Ireland and Northern Ireland were separate countries. For example, how is this different than Holland-Belgium competing together, or even say USA-Canada?

[Mike the Metal Ed]

Despite citizens of Northern Ireland having the right to claim Irish citizenship, it isn't. Some countries just like to pool their resources in sporting events.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

It's obviously different. When the Irish teams were established in rugby, for example, it was still just Ireland. Same as for football, but the Irish free state formed its own association after partition. It's not the same situation as two countries which have always been separate. Ireland was a single nation less than a hundred years ago, and possibly will be again within the next 100.

Anyway, Belgium probably won't be a country for much longer.

[Mike the Metal Ed]

Good point. Forgot they've only been seperated since 1923.