Posted on 08/06/2008 3:26:57 PM PDT by Stoat
Because Scotland, Wales, England and Northern Ireland are not individually represented at the games, only the Union Flag of Great Britain will be allowed inside the stadiums.
The regulation is widely believed to be aimed at preventing supporters of an independent Tibet from making political statements by waving its flag, but it will be enforced across the board.
Fans of British tennis star Andy Murray, who often wave Saltires from the stands, and cyclist Geraint Thomas, who is Welsh, are among those who will be affected.
Mr Thomas said: "It would be great to do a lap of honour draped in the Welsh flag if I win a gold medal, and I'm very disappointed if this rule means that would not be possible."
MPs have urged Gordon Brown to demand the Chinese scrap the ruling, which they say is a further example of China's human rights abuses.
Hugh Robertson, the shadow sports minister, said: "The right to wave your national flag has always been a central part of the spectator experience at every Olympic games. To see it banned now for internal political reasons contradicts an essential part of the Olympic experience and freedom of expression."
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
Also:
Banning the Dragon is an affront to freedom - WalesOnline
Flag-waving scenes like this will be banned in China
Welsh flag banned from the Olympics - Daily Post North Wales
No chance of Red Dragon flying at Olympics - WalesOnline
Scots cross over Olympic Saltire ban - Scotsman.com News
BBC NEWS Scotland Tayside and Central Anger over Beijing Saltire 'ban'
|
UK flags banned at the Olympics The Sun News
Ruled out ... supporter
If it’s not Scottish, it’s crap!
I'm shocked!
I'm shocked!
They certainly aren't showcasing a 'new, open China' are they?
who cares...none of the flags will be visible through the smog.
I doubt anyone really, seriously believed they would be “open” for the Olympics. Oh well, this is one Olympics I’m not going to watch (besides, I’ve never been into the summer Olympics, anyway).
Alabama State Flag Not Allowed.
Gee, what a surprise. I'm sure Rogge is shocked.
However, our politicians, especially our President should simply refuse to attend the Olympics. The President should not only skip the opening ceremony, but the entire games, and we should have no political envoy to the Olympic games.
If individual Americans want to attend the games that is their choice. However, our government needs to make a clear statement that China's thuggish tactics are unacceptable.
Black power salutes welcome as statements against oppressive U.S. racist laws and in support of the Stalinist Rat Party (formerly the traditional, patriotic Democratic Party).
Mr Thomas said: "It would be great to do a lap of honour draped in the Welsh flag if I win a gold medal, and I'm very disappointed if this rule means that would not be possible."
OK, buy Chinese flags and burn them.
I’ve got no sympathy. They were selected to represent the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, not any of it’s constituent nations. They can save it for the Commonwealth games.
It’s like an American athelete who is supposed to be representing his country wrapping himself in his state’s flag rather than the stars and stripes....
How was it China was picked for the Olympics anyway?
All I know is that we’d better damn well not dip our flag during the Opening Ceremonies.
Actually Carlos and Smith were banned from the games by the IOC and sent home. One of them was on the 4x100 relay and was dropped.
Beijing is certainly doing everything they need to ensure that they NEVER get to host the Olympics again.
HK Edgerton is a Man.
Comment from link,
“This is nothing to do with China’s policies and is just another bald attempt to knock the home nation. I attended the Atlanta olympics with my Welsh flag and was made to put it down on every occasion that I tried to fly it because it was not a flag of a competing nation. ~ Tim Davies”
Kind of says it all about the msm.
Kind of says it all about the msm.
Apparently such rules have been applied unevenly in previous Olympics:
No chance of Red Dragon flying at Olympics - WalesOnline
“Welsh medal winning athletes and their supporters have been able to wave the Welsh flag at previous Olympics without the threat of having them confiscated.
The 2008 Chinese are about as much fun as the 1936 Germans.
EFF the commie bustards!!!
National disgrace: In a picture from a German archive never before published in Britain, the England football team give Nazi salutes in Berlin in 1938
I guess this one is right out then. It's Taiwan's btw.
The other big no no flag....Tibet's
Northern Ireland flags issue - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Agreed.
Oh well, this is one Olympics I’m not going to watch (besides, I’ve never been into the summer Olympics, anyway).
Same for myself. and I'm seeing similar sentiments almost universally expressed throughout the reader comment areas in the linked and related articles. Many cite their revulsion over the iron commie bootheel being brought down upon the necks of people who are merely wanting to have a friendly sporting competition but are instead treated with what many consider to be a far cry from friendliness on the part of their hosts.
These people are talking about taking a victory lap wrapped in their constituent nation’s flag. They are not there to represent Wales, or England, or Scotland, or whatever. They’re their to represent Great Britain. They can represent their constituent nation at the Commonwealth games....
Something vaguely related to Ireland ping!
Most of our athletes are going to be barely competing anyway, I wouldn’t bother making the trip really lads...
But yes, a little strict!
Well, considering the leftist, pro-Communist orientation of Scots and Welsh nationalists, this has got to hurt.
These Olympics are going to be a PR nightmare for Chinese communist propaganda.
I expect a big event to happen early in the games if not during the Opening Ceremonies Friday.
These games are going to drive home the point that despite some economic freedoms, China is still a ruthless despotic boot stomping police state, where human political rights and basic human rights are denied openly.
Despite open economic trade, China is not only still an enemy of the world but a hostile enemy of their own people.
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