No Union Flag on athletics kits

[Rhiannon]

The GB athletes won't have the Union Flag on their kit for the World Championships.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/athletics/33942584

Could this be due to the influence of Scottish nationalism? Can't think why else.

Does it matter?

[jeremyp]

The GB athletes won't have the Union Flag on their kit for the World Championships.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/athletics/33942584

Could this be due to the influence of Scottish nationalism?

No.

Can't think why else.

My first thought was some trendy fashion designer has been at it.

[ProfessorDavey]

The GB athletes won't have the Union Flag on their kit for the World Championships.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/athletics/33942584

Could this be due to the influence of Scottish nationalism? Can't think why else.

Does it matter?

A storm in a tea-cup I think.

I suspect this is merely a design decision with no 'political' overtones. Actually if you read the article and scroll down you'll see that the union flag is plastered prominently all over the kit, just not on the vest.

And it is certainly not the case that sporting kits including the national flag. I don't think the England football teams kit ever has (players tend to kiss the badge - 3 lions - to show their allegiance) - nor were the victorious ashes cricketers wearing a kit that included the England flag.

[Rhiannon]

The athletes themselves don't seem that chuffed.

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/aug/14/british-athletics-union-flag-less-vest-greg-rutherford-kelly-holmes

And this is Chris Bryant's take:

Shadow culture, media and sport secretary Chris Bryant lent his support, tweeting: "Yes @GregJRutherford is right. That vest could easily be French or American.

"Where is the Union flag? Is someone embarrassed to be British?"

Apparently it's been driven by the need to promote British Athletics as a brand name, but it's no Three Lions emblem - unlike other sports it's been the flag that athletes have used in the past. They've left it off the vest which is the part if the kit most visible, co clearly the branding is seen as the most important thing. Still, our athletes get to show their allegiance to Nike.

Can't say it bothers me much as I'm not an athlete and I don't watch athletics. But it seems to be ill thought out.

[Anchorman]

The GB athletes won't have the Union Flag on their kit for the World Championships.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/athletics/33942584

Could this be due to the influence of Scottish nationalism? Can't think why else.

Does it matter?

-
Great stuff!
The less we see of the butcher's apron, the better.

[Walt Zingmatilder]

The GB athletes won't have the Union Flag on their kit for the World Championships.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/athletics/33942584

Could this be due to the influence of Scottish nationalism? Can't think why else.

Does it matter?

-
Great stuff!
The less we see of the butcher's apron, the better.

Unfortunately Anchs your side lost in the referendum......here's union jack bunting to you.

[ProfessorDavey]

The athletes themselves don't seem that chuffed.

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/aug/14/british-athletics-union-flag-less-vest-greg-rutherford-kelly-holmes

And this is Chris Bryant's take:

Shadow culture, media and sport secretary Chris Bryant lent his support, tweeting: "Yes @GregJRutherford is right. That vest could easily be French or American.

"Where is the Union flag? Is someone embarrassed to be British?"

Apparently it's been driven by the need to promote British Athletics as a brand name, but it's no Three Lions emblem - unlike other sports it's been the flag that athletes have used in the past. They've left it off the vest which is the part if the kit most visible, co clearly the branding is seen as the most important thing. Still, our athletes get to show their allegiance to Nike.

Can't say it bothers me much as I'm not an athlete and I don't watch athletics. But it seems to be ill thought out.

From looking at the bigger picture they seem to have moved the union flag from the vest to the shorts. Maybe some people don't like that, but its still there. The whole kit seems (as is often the case) to be based on the union flag in terms of colours and geometric design.

It is also unclear whether this just Rutherford or a widespread view - he makes that claim, but unsubstantiated.

Overall it seems rather poor if an elite athlete seems to be implying that he can't give his best unless the shirt he is wearing is designed in a particular manner. Heaven help a top cyclist who can't stand yellow!!

[Nearly Sane]

Nice jump on a bandwagon by Bryant.

[Walt Zingmatilder]

Nice jump on a bandwagon by Bryant.

It is corporist twaddle to drop the flag in order to promote the concept and customer experience of ''Brand Athletics''. The Govt must be planning to sell  GB athletics off to a global corporation......asurely it must be easier to CGI a logo straight onto a sports kit in motion than first taking a Union Jack off?

[floo]

I am glad the Brits don't go in for flag waving to the extent those across the pond seem to do.

[Rhiannon]

The athletes themselves don't seem that chuffed.

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/aug/14/british-athletics-union-flag-less-vest-greg-rutherford-kelly-holmes

And this is Chris Bryant's take:

Shadow culture, media and sport secretary Chris Bryant lent his support, tweeting: "Yes @GregJRutherford is right. That vest could easily be French or American.

"Where is the Union flag? Is someone embarrassed to be British?"

Apparently it's been driven by the need to promote British Athletics as a brand name, but it's no Three Lions emblem - unlike other sports it's been the flag that athletes have used in the past. They've left it off the vest which is the part if the kit most visible, co clearly the branding is seen as the most important thing. Still, our athletes get to show their allegiance to Nike.

Can't say it bothers me much as I'm not an athlete and I don't watch athletics. But it seems to be ill thought out.

From looking at the bigger picture they seem to have moved the union flag from the vest to the shorts. Maybe some people don't like that, but its still there. The whole kit seems (as is often the case) to be based on the union flag in terms of colours and geometric design.

It is also unclear whether this just Rutherford or a widespread view - he makes that claim, but unsubstantiated.

Overall it seems rather poor if an elite athlete seems to be implying that he can't give his best unless the shirt he is wearing is designed in a particular manner. Heaven help a top cyclist who can't stand yellow!!

He's not saying he can't give his best. He's saying he wants to display that he's there for his country.

Athletes joining him in speaking out include David Weir, Eillish McColgan, Goldie Sayers, Dan Greaves, Michael Rimmer and Kelly Holmes.

[Rhiannon]

Nice jump on a bandwagon by Bryant.

It is corporist twaddle to drop the flag in order to promote the concept and customer experience of ''Brand Athletics''. The Govt must be planning to sell  GB athletics off to a global corporation......asurely it must be easier to CGI a logo straight onto a sports kit in motion than first taking a Union Jack off?

I'd think that was crazy shit but according to these comments it isn't so. British Athletics Ltd, funded by the tax payer, has as its corporate partners the BBC, Camelot and Nike.

So yes, it's been sold off, according to the comments and what I can find on the web.

[Nearly Sane]

I think rather than sold off, it has been 'collateralized'.

[Anchorman]

The GB athletes won't have the Union Flag on their kit for the World Championships.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/athletics/33942584

Could this be due to the influence of Scottish nationalism? Can't think why else.

Does it matter?

-
Great stuff!
The less we see of the butcher's apron, the better.

Unfortunately Anchs your side lost in the referendum......here's union jack bunting to you.

-
Cheers, Vlad.
I'm running short of Andrex.

[Rhiannon]

The GB athletes won't have the Union Flag on their kit for the World Championships.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/athletics/33942584

Could this be due to the influence of Scottish nationalism? Can't think why else.

Does it matter?

-
Great stuff!
The less we see of the butcher's apron, the better.

Unfortunately Anchs your side lost in the referendum......here's union jack bunting to you.

-
Cheers, Vlad.
I'm running short of Andrex.

Classy. 

[Rhiannon]

Anyways, more classy stuff here.

http://www.athleticsweekly.com/blog/justin-gatlin-or-jo-pavey-who-would-you-sponsor-20182/

Great example for our young people, well done Nike.

[Nearly Sane]

Part of me wants to give up on the war against drugs in athletics because just having it out in the open might make it easier in what to believe.

[Rhiannon]

I'm afraid I've just given up on athletics. Used to love it years ago, never bother watching it now except when the Olympics are on and even then I'm cynical. Jo Pavey I find inspirational as an individual, but not the sport.

[OH MY WORLD!]

floo,
Now come on, you missed the Queen's 50th and 60th celebrations? Now there's flag waving the USA has never matched. I loved seeing the sea of Union Jacks waving.

[ProfessorDavey]

He's not saying he can't give his best. He's saying he wants to display that he's there for his country.

I think he is actually if his quotes are to be believed:

'Rutherford insists the union jack flag on his vest has always been a motivation for his best performances.'

'Rutherford says the flag on his vest during London 2012 helped inspire his gold medal performance.'

[Hope]

Anyways, more classy stuff here.

http://www.athleticsweekly.com/blog/justin-gatlin-or-jo-pavey-who-would-you-sponsor-20182/

Great example for our young people, well done Nike.

Shall we pick up on WingsoverScotland's example and set up a crowdfunding appeal for Jo?

[Hope]

I wnder whether it is the physical flag that is so psychologically valuable?  After all, the new kit effectively absorbs or represents the flag.

[Rhiannon]

He's not saying he can't give his best. He's saying he wants to display that he's there for his country.

I think he is actually if his quotes are to be believed:

'Rutherford insists the union jack flag on his vest has always been a motivation for his best performances.'

'Rutherford says the flag on his vest during London 2012 helped inspire his gold medal performance.'

Ok, so let's say Greg really does regard the UF as his lucky pants. Is it right to replace it with what are in effect two corporate logos for international competition? According to the people at Athletics Weekly the designs's pretty much the same as Canada.

[Udayana]

The whole thing is daft, why have standard kit at all? Athletes should be allowed to wear whatever they like within the rules of fairness in the sport or as needed for team games.

[Walt Zingmatilder]

  After all, the new kit effectively absorbs................ the flag.

It's the sweat.