I don't usually take much interest in football, especially during the Olympics, but when I read on Twitter that none of the Welsh players had sung God Save the Queen at the beginning Great Britain's first male football match I suddenly wanted to tune in (and have even watched the beginning over again).
Welsh nationalism has always been somewhat of a taboo subject, especially during prime time on the BBC, but here it was being discussed at half time of an Olympic match by Gary Lineker and Robbie Savage. How times have changed? Or have they?
Gary Lineker's bemusement over why the Welsh players didn't want to take part in singing their imperial national anthem brought the viewer's attention back to the BBC's lack of regard and knowledge towards the Nations and Regions of Great Britain. But what difference does it make, as Lineker said: "it is after all a Great British team?"
Yes, it is, but the anthem is also the English one and a symbol of the English stronghold over British culture. These 'home' Olympics as they are described on the BBC, don't mean any more to me than had Paris won the bid. Do these comments showcase more of the BBC's culture, which is as London-centric as the games themselves or are they the personal feelings of one rogue commentator? Is it a lack of education or lack of interest that causes this ignorance of cultures residing over the border or the Irish Sea to England? Or is it our fault for not pushing our nationalism within Great Britain in order to showcase real British culture (that is the culture of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales)?
But of course the massive irony of these games are if they manage to inspire a generation, as their slogan hopes it will, is that the opportunities and facilities that allow young people to take part in sport will be mainly located in a different country to us here in Wales as only 0.1% of the budget for the Olympics has been spent in Wales and the cuts caused by the Olympic budget has taken many facilities away from communities across Great Britain.
Would it leave a better legacy to celebrate the nations and regions of Great Britain and allow the Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish and English flags to be flown across the games as a symbol of British multi-nationalism? Have the organisers missed a trick and an opportunity to showcase real British culture? That is the culture of all the nations and regions of Britain not just English culture dressed up in a Union Jack. This might have made more people feel a part of the games and wouldn't have caused an awkward half time discussion surrounding nationalism and the anthems of Great Britain by commentators who frankly don't understand the strength of feeling!
Team GB women welcome attention on football's biggest stage
Team GB forward Bellamy not feeling the Olympics pressure
David Beckham gives Team GB football girls a boost
Team GB finally arrive at London 2012 as Olympic football finds its voice
Live Commentary: Women's Olympic football- day four
Newspaper round-up: Olympics, Rio Ferdinand, Tom Daley, Team GB gymnasts
Inspired by Team GB then get to St Clere's
Have his Sheikh and eat it: Team GB's Micah Richards hoping to disappoint his ...
The only difference is that there will be 205 nations then.
"Thy choicest gifts in store
On her be pleased to pour,
Long may she reign.
May she defend our laws,
And ever give us cause,
To sing with heart and voice,
God save the Queen."
I don't see it myself ......
May he sedition hush, and like a torrent rush, rebellious Scots to crush, god save the queen.
Not the second verse but one appended to the anthem in 1745, cant see why anyone would have a problem there eh, unless of course they are Scottish. Anyway it was supposably dropped in time for the act of union, which only a few of our toff's voted for.
I prefer the sexpistols version myself.
what an absolutely pathetic article.
Oh, and Sian, that idea of using the four national flags wouldn't work, for a different reason. Since the abolition of the old Stormont parliament in 1973, Northern Ireland hasn't had an official flag.
Or they don't speak Welsh?
However, the Olympic team is a GB team. That's who the players are representing. They are considered British in these games. That was the point where the football was concerned what with all the controversy surrounding the inability of the individual nations to take part in the games.
Therefore, the British anthem should be sung. As far as I am aware, it's not specifically English no matter what people may think. The English do not have a national anthem. "God Save The Queen" is an awful song though. GB needs better, least until we go our separate ways.
I don't understand why the home nations hate the English so much that they actively want them to lose a game. I wasn't responsible for all the crap the English did in the past, neither are the Scots or the Welsh for their own respective nations. Am I guilty of the sins of my father?
If Scotland withdraws from the Union, I will accept that decision. I wouldn't be happy about it. Not because I want to maintain control over Scotland, but because we are stronger together than divided. I don't want to lose that.
I dated a welsh woman a few years back. She was beautiful with a beautiful accent. Both Wales and Scotland are beautiful. Let's be friends even if we can't be lovers.
Just my 2 cents.
I have to contend your point - "I noticed that few of the English players were actually signing it - but you lot don't make a fuss over that. ". I really don't care if the footballers sing it or not. It's their choice. God save the Queen is an awful song and needs to be replaced anyway. Your use of the term "you lot" is rather insulting as you have lumped every English person into the same basket. You don't know me and can't presume to know how I feel about things. I'm actually extremely left wing and strongly believe in the right to self determination.
I also couldn't care less about Rooney. Why do I need to grow up? I don't even like football that much.
My post was discussive with no insults or turns of phrases that could be considered insulting. Why, then do you have such a negative attitude towards me? You seem to have a real issue with the English. Why? Seriously, I want to know.
What is the true nature - in your opinion - of the islands I inhabit? Or inhabited rather, because I currently live in the US.
I think the Welsh contingent of the GB football team are really up for the tournament. Bellamy, Giggs and Allen have played fantastic – why ask much more than that. They want to be there, playing for GB. And the team have done okay. So what if they don't all sing.
At Commonwealth games, sometimes they play the Londonderry Air, sometimes "The Mountains of Mourne". But other than the National Anthem, there is no official anthem,.
Culture is much more important division than nations or even languages but we want to stick to clearly defined boundaries because we are affraid of the unknown and the unclear.
So we focus on these stupid and meaningless symbols (nations, borders, anthems, national teams, royalties, ...) to feel part of something clear and defined, to alleviate our fear of the unknown...
Then after, some people claim less deeper meaning...