Topics

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/article6927549.ece

http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/releases/newsid=1137701.html

Sorry Tony

Anyone watching on TV, or even going?

Should be a great occasion and promises to be a good contest between what look like two closely matched teams.

Ok bit of a parochial angle but nice to see Amnesty supporting the NI flag

FFS though - all to keep the Chinese government sweet with regards to Tibet. Imgaine in Cathy Freeman was still around and won gold - what's that, you want to carry an Aboriginal flag as well as an Australian flag? Certainly not...

Northern Ireland flag 'banned at Olympics'

Strict rules banning the display of certain symbols at the Beijing Olympics will mean Northern Ireland supporters will not be able to wave their national flag at the events, it was claimed today.

A code of conduct for spectators laid down by Organising Committee outlaws flags other than those of Olympic members.

Amnesty International claims the measure has been introduced to ensure no flags of Chinese-governed Tibet are displayed by independence campaigners. However, the human rights group said it will have consequences for other national flags as well.

The Repubilc and United Kingdom are represented by the Tricolour and the Union flag, respectively, but Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales are not members in their own right.

Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty International programme director for Northern Ireland, said: "To many sports fans from here travelling to Beijing it will seem absurd that neither they nor our athletes can show the Northern Ireland or Ulster flags at the Olympics.

"But for people in China the repression of free speech is much more serious - saying the wrong thing can land you in prison and many journalists and activists have been arrested."

"Local athletes taking medals at the Beijing Olympics should be able to do a victory lap with a Northern Ireland or Ulster flag if they wish," he added.

The Organising Committee guidelines states that spectators should not bring the following to any events: "Flags of non-members of the Olympics or Paralympics; flags or banners larger than 2m x 1m; flagpoles; any banners, slogans, fliers, brochures or samples."

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaki.../breaking18.htm



Anger over Beijing Saltire 'ban'
Lee McConnell with a Saltire
Lee McConnell will be part of Team GB in Beijing

An MSP has warned Scots travelling to Beijing for the Olympics that they may not be able to wave the Saltire in support of Scottish athletes.

Jamie Hepburn, the SNP MSP for Central Scotland, said "house rules" published by the Olympic Committee appeared to ban flags from non-member countries.

Mr Hepburn said that as Scots athletes were competing as part of Team GB, only Union Jack flags would be allowed.

He has urged organisers of the games to clarify the rules.

The official website for the games states that "to avoid delays at security and to maintain an orderly flow, please DO NOT bring the following articles to any venue:... flags of non-members of the Olympics or Paralympics; flags or banners larger than 2m x 1m; flagpoles; any banners, slogans, fliers, brochures or samples".

'National pride'

Mr Hepburn, who is convenor of the Scottish Parliament cross-party group on human rights, said the rule was aimed at preventing supporters from waving the Tibetan flag.

He said that people who had travelled from England, Wales and Northern Ireland would also be prevented from waving their national flags.

He added: "Athletes from across Scotland and the rest of the UK will be taking part in the Beijing Olympics, and fans should be allowed to show their support by waving the national flag of their choice.

"With participants like Andy Murray often wearing Saltires on their kit as a symbol of national pride it will be a shame if fans are not able to echo that by waving Saltires from the stands.

"I will be writing to the British Olympic Association and the International Olympic Committee and urging them to challenge this ruling."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/taysid...ral/7541642.stm

Radar's at it again today according to today's News Letter. ("McElduff has lost grip on reality - UUP MLA")

Apparently he's written to TDs and Senators about how they refer to the Republic of Ireland.

He said calling Ireland "this country", "this nation", "the Republic", "the South" or "this country of four million people" were all wrong and "offensive" because they infer separation between north and south and forget about "the other six counties" and "those here who continue to asset our national identity". He asked southern politicians to only talk of the (Irish) State or the 26 counties 

Further down the report...

"Very often they (TDs and senators) use language carelessly. They describe the 26 counties as Ireland, as if the six counties of the north did not constitute Ireland....Even in the EU, I hear people talk about Ireland and Northern Ireland. Sometimes they talk about the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland...in an incredulous manner - as if the border does not exist 

Leaving aside for a moment the hilarity of yet another "campaign" from McElduff, a few points:

- He'll need to campaign for the Irish constitution to be changed, as it sets the name of the state as Ireland: "The name of the State is Éire, or, in the English language, Ireland."
- He'll want "Ireland" dropped from his passport then? And replaced with "the State" or "26 counties"
- Call it "the State" but not "the Republic" - the state is a republic, and its official description as laid down in Irish law is the Republic of Ireland
- "the South" is offensive too? Probably the most regular users of this, and "the North" are the Shinners
- He'll need to write to his own party about the use of 'Ireland' - http://www.sinnfein.ie/pdf/PostLisbo...inalLowRes.pdf
http://www.sinnfein.ie/news/detail/28063

Funny thing is, I can see where northern nationalists/republicans wouldn't like the "26 county state" being called Ireland. But then again, this seems to be find of traded off against seeing "Ireland" on passports and referring to "the President of Ireland" and sort of pretending the "Ireland" in question is the island of Ireland, rather than the state.

Still nice to see Barry keeping himself busy over the summer with such useful work

It's on Sunday, here are the seedings:

First Seeds: Italy, Spain, Germany, Czech Republic, France, Portugal, Netherlands, Croatia, Greece

Second Seeds: England, Romania, Scotland, Turkey, Bulgaria, Russia, Poland, Sweden, Israel

Third Seeds: Norway, Ukraine, Serbia, Denmark, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Finland, Switzerland, Belgium

Fourth Seeds: Slovakia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Hungary, Moldova, Wales, FYR Macedonia, Belarus, Lithuania, Cyprus

Fifth Seeds: Georgia, Albania, Slovenia, Latvia, Iceland, Armenia, Austria, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan

Sixth Seeds: Liechtenstein, Estonia, Malta, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Andorra, Faroe Islands, San Marino


Who do you fancy for NI or the RoI?