retired_marcias

I reckon Scotland and Wales should be separate from England in the Olympics, but since GB generally struggles to win more than 1 or 2 gold medals I doubt there'd be much in the way of national anthems being played by the home countries...except for Scotland in curling mebee :p

retired_sargent

Curling Bah.

It just proves that Scottish women are better scrubbers than Swiss women

retired_jsammut

Talking of the Olympics, is there any news on whether GB will get the go-ahead to field a team in the football part of the games? I recall reading that Blatter was considering allowing the creation of a team for the Olympics, but that was some time last year.

retired_kswansonwoolf

Usually, it's the U-21 teams that participate in the Olympics tournament, right? Don't England have an U-21 squad? Or is it ineligible or something?

retired_sargent

England cannot compete in Football in the Olympics as it would have to be a Great Britain Team.


A quote from FIFA

"The International Football Association Board continues to exercise hegemony over the laws of the game. It is composed of the four delegates from each of the four British associations as permanent members and four FIFA delegates." The FIFA website's Inside FIFA section describes the Board as "an abiding acknowledgement of the historic significance of the British associations in world football."

This should explain why none of the four British Associations are willing to join a single unified team. They will no longer have the political clout on FIFA.

retired_bethx

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> Just imagine if England, Scotland, Wales & Ireland actually agreed on something? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I think this is the issue as far as UEFA are concerned.

The English, Scots, Welsh and Northern Irish F.A.'s do agree on things, and therefore provide a substantial block vote when it comes to passing legislation.

Some of the bigger European Nations e.g. Italy, would apparently be quite pleased to see a UK team, thus reducing the influence to one vote instead of four.

retired_jsammut

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Church:
England cannot compete in Football in the Olympics as it would have to be a Great Britain Team.


A quote from FIFA

"The International Football Association Board continues to exercise hegemony over the laws of the game. It is composed of the four delegates from each of the four British associations as permanent members and four FIFA delegates." The FIFA website's Inside FIFA section describes the Board as "an abiding acknowledgement of the historic significance of the British associations in world football."

This should explain why none of the four British Associations are willing to join a single unified team. They will no longer have the political clout on FIFA.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I know, but Blatter was considering making an exception only for the Olympics as it was thought that a joint team would assist with the 2012 Olympic bid.

retired_sargent

I agree, this was talked about but I thought all the 4 British Associations turned down the idea.

retired_jsammut

Oh, OK. Cheers for that, Church.

retired_steffani

I heard basically only England wanted it, probably for that Welsh poof with the left foot