Rename "Team GB" as "Team UK"
Congratulations to all the UK's Olympic athletes (and their coaches and families) on their historic success at our home Olympic Games. London 2012 has brought the nation together unlike any other recent sporting event. Rather than England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland battling against each other, the country has united to support one UK-wide team who have taken on the world and won.
However surely it would make sense if this UK-wide team we have all been supporting was actually called “Team UK” instead of “Team GB”. The team includes not only athletes from Great Britain (England, Wales & Scotland) but also many from Northern Ireland. Northern Irish athletes have provided five "Team GB" medals so far at these Games. Surely it is time that their contribution was recognised and the team name was changed to “Team UK”.
I understand that the designation "GBR" and the name “British Olympic Association” pre-date the inclusion of Northern Ireland athletes in the team and that the BOA wishes to preserve its name and the Team GB name due to their historic significance having participated in every Olympics Games. However just because a name has historical resonance does not justify keeping it when it is no longer an accurate description of the population that the team represents.
By signing this petition you are requesting that the BOA change the UK team’s name to “Team UK” for the next Olympics.