Olympic Games

[Neil]

It does not have the same ring to it as Team GB

Are there athletes from N. Ireland competing?

[Maggi Young]

It does not have the same ring to it as Team GB

Are there athletes from N. Ireland competing?

 I know... I can just picture the graffitti for Team YUK

I don't know if there are N.Irish athletes competeing for the team this time- I know they can choose to affiliate to either the Irish team fromn the Republic, or the British Team, as they prefer. I'd be very surprised if there were none included.

[Maggi Young]

From this website :  http://www.teamgb.com
"What is Team GB?

Team GB is the Great Britain and Northern Ireland Olympic Team.

Every two years the Team represents Great Britain and Northern Ireland in the summer or winter Olympic Games. The Team is selected by the British Olympic Association, in conjunction with the governing bodies, from the best sportsmen and women to compete in 26 summer and 7 winter Olympic sports at the greatest sporting event in the world.

The sportsmen and women who are selected to participate for GB at the Olympic Games become members of the Great Britain Olympic Team, Team GB.

There is only one Olympic team from Great Britain and Northern Ireland; Team GB. There is not an Olympic swimming team or Olympic rowing team. The individual sports join to become Team GB, the Great Britain and Northern Ireland Olympic Team.
How is Team GB selected?

The British Olympic Association (BOA) is responsible for selecting Team GB for the Olympic Games, in conjunction with the National Governing Bodies of each Olympic sport. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Federation agree the qualification standard for each sport at the Olympic Games. The BOA and each governing body agree any higher standard above that qualification specifically for Team GB."

From Wikipedia:

"The British Olympic Committee rejected calls for the nickname to be changed to Team UK. A spokesman said that "Team UK would not a be completely accurate description of the BOA remit." and that 'Team GB' is an effective "trading name".

At a meeting of the UK Sports Cabinet in London the Minister said it was unfortunate that the title ‘Team GB and Northern Ireland’ was so frequently shortened to ‘Team GB’, particularly in media circles."

"Team UK would not a be completely accurate description of the BOA remit."

No? How on earth could that be? 

Wonderful what stuff these folks can come up with, I reckon! 

It seems there are around 540 plus members of "Team GB" ... they're listed here :
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/Team-GB/competitors/

[Jackie]

Not altogether surprising, Gerry. 
I've just heard on the news that they managed to show the flag of South Korea on the big screen at Hampden Park when introducing the NORTH Korean team for the ladies football match.
 What a gaffe!

Seoul destroying...

[Maggi Young]

Seoul destroying...

  Jackie, that's a pun that could have come from a Forumist with years of practice.... 
 Start as you mean to go on!

[ronm]

Seoul destroying...

  A star is born 

[Jackie]

It's taken forty-three years, but I dare to hope I have found my spiritual home 

[Maggi Young]

That's good to hear, Jackie - every now and then ( though not more than twice a day, usually) there is a festival of punning around these parts that is positively Olympian in nature.

Some days I have to take extra medication to cope......

[ronm]

And of course only those of very strong constitution should spend more than a minute viewing the Members Board 

[fermi de Sousa]

It does not have the same ring to it as Team GB

We finally got to see the Ab Fab "Olympic Special" last night and June Whitfield's comment on Team GB was "Gays and Bi-sexuals? I thought they have their own games"!
cheers
fermi

[Anthony Darby]

We finally got to see the Ab Fab "Olympic Special" last night and June Whitfield's comment on Team GB was "Gays and Bi-sexuals? I thought they have their own games"!
cheers
fermi

It's on TV here tonight! My mum went to school with June Whitfield when the latter was shipped up to Huddersfield.

[Tony Willis]

My mum went to school with June Whitfield when the latter was shipped up to Huddersfield.

I hope they packed her carefully for the journey!

Maggi  I hope plenty of server space is reserved for the moans after the opening ceremony.

[Anthony Darby]

The Whitfield family had a shop in Huddersfield so June was sent to Kays College to learn shorthand typing! My mum remembered her as one of the older girls.

[vivienr]

My youngest son, an art student in London, is working in the Velodrome at the moment. He started last Monday getting the refreshments for all the athlete/media/officials lounges in the park venues ready. Now he has been manning the three  lounges under the velodrome while the different countries come in for their training sessions. He will not be able to see much of the live action when the racing starts next week but there are TV screens everywhere so they will know what is going on.
He did 10 9-hour days in a row before having a day off yesterday....unfortunately, that was the day that 'Team GB' came in to train

[Anthony Darby]

The opening ceremony is on channel 4 in NZ, but I switched over to Sky as there were adverts every few minutes, even cutting out Kenneth Branagh's speech, and the NZ commentators talked through the music.