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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.
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