Scottish want their own Olympic team

 :
The Scottish Government has repeated its calls for Scotland to have its own, separate team at the Olympics.

Ministers believe it would be good for Scotland's sport and standing and the SNP wants to hold a referendum in 2010 - two years before the Games in London.

However, Labour said the Nationalists were being petty and should share Britain's pride in Team GB.

The Beijing Olympics saw cyclist Chris Hoy earn the accolade of Scotland's greatest Olympian with his three golds.

His three medals helped Great Britain to its best performance for a century but if the Scottish Government is successful in its bid, Team GB in future will not include Scotland.

Sports Minister Stewart Maxwell pointed to the success of nations such as Jamaica as proof small countries can make an impact at the Olympics and believes a separate Scottish team could achieve great things.
   
He told BBC Scotland: "If you look at Jamaica, a small island nation, they won gold, silver and bronze in the women's sprint, they've got world records, they've won the men's, the women's 100 and 200 metres and the relay.

"This is an exceptionally brilliant nation - at the same time a small nation. Scotland can compete on the world stage - we proved that in the Olympics - and a Scottish team at the Olympics is the future."

Asked what Mr Maxwell would say to those Scots who would rather see Scotland's athletes play a big role in Team GB, Mr Maxwell replied: "What I would say to them, do Irish athletes want to rejoin the UK and be part of the UK team?

"Do we want to get rid of the GB team and have a European team because a European team would sweep the board?

"So I think you have to think about whether or not it's appropriate in the level you represent your own country in. I think it's quite right you represent your own country."

However, Labour said most Scots took pride in the achievements of the whole of Team GB, with Scotland's own success making it extra special.

Frank McAveety, Scottish Labour sports spokesman said: "I'm absolutely passionate about Scotland and I want Scotland to do well, but I'm also exceptionally proud of team GB's performance in the Olympics. I don't see why I should be asked to make a choice between those two."

Meanwhile, Labour leadership contender Cathy Jamieson has called for Scotland to have its own Year of Sport in 2014.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7579124.stm


They love their little 'referendum's' don't they.  Can the Government up there not make a decision themselves? Isn't that what their paid to do.  Maybe they should save some money and just run their country through a webpage with loads of polls on it?

Love the bit attempting to compare Scotland with Jamaica. 

Fine by me.  Anyone else agree?

Sorry, but Scotland can go and... well you get the idea, they are always bleating about the terrible English, when to be honest they really don't have much, don't mention the oil because it was the English taxpayer who payed for the in frostructure, the Scottish Parliament WTF! they have not only spent millions on it but also want a say in ours. Did you know that there is a suburb in Glasgow where the life expectancy is only 55!
give them their year of sport, I'm sure the Tossing the Caber will be riveting, wow a national sport where you throw a stick! All because Hoy can ride a Bike FAST, and they want independence again, 

I know I've lost the plot abit, but either SHUT UP Scotland, and Live with the English, or rebuild Hadrian's Wall, 

Seein as the English think their the best at everything, I agree with the fact that Scotland should have its own team.

Seein as the English think their the best at everything, I agree with the fact that Scotland should have its own team.

What would you do when Chris Hoy retires though?

How many referendums do Scotland want, they had one a good few years ago, and Scotland and Wales said then they wanted to start going there own way.

Before the referendums I used to say I was British, not any more, F**k them if they want to split GB up.
I'm English and proud of it.

Scotland and Wales over the years will go there own way, but it will not happen that fast, maybe in 10 or 20 years.

I know Scotland keep going on about there oil, but it was English and USA money that got it out, if it was left to Scotland it would still be under the north sea.

Here are some facts some of you might not no about.
For every pound that Scotland raises in taxes, we down here in England have to put in 15p.
Wales we have to put in 10p.
There are no figures for NI. but NI, do not want to spilt GB up.

So if we did not have Scotland and Wales we could be 25% better off, that could be more money in are pockets or are health and are schools could be better off.

What would you do when Chris Hoy retires though?

Chris Hoy, did a great job for us in the GB team, but he is 32, don't think he will be part of the next games.

Be good to see a breakdown of the nationalities in the British olympic team this year see what percentage are English or Scottish or Welsh or Northern Irish

Graham your English and proud , I'm Welsh and proud ,but not all of us in wales want home rule and i personally think it should stay GB.

Should stay GB, I am scottish and the scots take all of this anti-english to the next level, my mum is english so I enjoy supporting england in all of their sports apart from the football the majority of the time. But many Scots would love Scotland to become Independent but knowing sods law it would all turn sour and would just ruin Scotland am afraid.

Graham your English and proud , I'm Welsh and proud ,but not all of us in wales want home rule and I personally think it should stay GB.

I think when you had your referendum, It was something like 51% in favour to 49%.
That might have change now, because the Welsh party are getting more votes now.

I will be sad to see GB go, but it is on the cards, it will take a good few years, but it will happen.

The Scots are forging the way, and there is no turning back now, and Wales will follow Scotland.

But the thing that Im realy sad over, Scotland and Wales had there referendum, BUT, no one has the guts to ask us English, and give us a referendum. MMMMMMMMMMM I wonder why.

I think when you had your referendum, It was something like 51% in favour to 49%.
That might have change now, because the Welsh party are getting more votes now.

I will be sad to see GB go, but it is on the cards, it will take a good few years, but it will happen.

The Scots are forging the way, and there is no turning back now, and Wales will follow Scotland.

But the thing that Im realy sad over, Scotland and Wales had there referendum, BUT, no one has the guts to ask us English, and give us a referendum. MMMMMMMMMMM I wonder why.

Dont want to sound bitchy , but why shoulld you ? The English invaded Wales and Scotland then took over. It was your choise. But like i said i would rather a United Kingdoom.

Are we talkin about an olympic team or independance?
Its easy to have a scottish, english and welsh olympic team but independance is a whole different topic.

If the Scots, Welsh and Northern Irish want their own Olympic teams then that's fair enough.

Let's do it.

2008 Olympics Team GB medal winners

Who is saying that the Welsh want thier own olympic team anyway?

Winning medals isnt all the olympics is about JD.
Showing us where the medal winners came from isnt going to change my mind.
Its about representing your country, and if someone would rather represent Scotland than GB, thats fair enough, its their choice.

If the Scots, Welsh and Northern Irish want their own Olympic teams then that's fair enough.

Let's do it.

2008 Olympics Team GB medal winners

Chris Hoy might be from Scotland, but he lives in Manchester.

Winning medals isnt all the olympics is about JD.
Showing us where the medal winners came from isnt going to change my mind.
Its about representing your country, and if someone would rather represent Scotland than GB, thats fair enough, its their choice.

No it isn't really their choice.  I'd rather represent Merseyside than England but I wouldn't be allowed to.

Haha as a member of the NI community.... i think that a seperate team would be a poor sports move , just look at the medal map

I think it would be better to stay as Great Britain, but if Scotland want their own team then let them have one.
But isn't GB split up into the seperate countries in the Commenwealth Games?
What's the difference in sending Team GB to the Olympics but England, Scotland, Wales and Nothern Ireland to the Commenwealth Games?

To be honest, I feel all this Olympics stuff is being blown out of proportion. Gold winners now are treated like Royalty, when beforehand, no-one was really that fussed. The winners this year got home, welcomed with open top buses and the freedom of a town, which is fair enough. But why the sudden rush of plaudits when no-one has really been bothered before?

I know the London Olympics are coming up (the reason for our apparent recession perhaps) and people are getting this big sense of pride, but for me, the Olympics are just a big fanfare. A 'look at us' type of thing. Beijing used it to show the world how they're not an old fashioned country anymore. I haven't a clue how Great Britain is going to use it. We're paying mega taxes, prices are going up on everything, and for what? Some party for people around the world to come and see how brilliant our capital is? Hardly our capital! We're priced out of going any other time! Imagine it in 2012. Petrol will be £2.50 a litre and I dread to think how much it'll be on the train!

Rant over! My apologies!

Let them have their own team, Wales too if they want.  For the paltry amount of medalists they provide each year (one exception in Chris Hoy) it is not going to make much difference to medal table.

Imagine if Hoy had been injured - Jason Kenny would have picked up his gold in the Keirin.  We could have sent another English rider who may have done well.

I have never had a problem with them wanting independance either.  Since Braveheart was on the tele they all think we English have taken "their freedom."  Let them have their referendum - if I could I would vote for evolution devolution for them.  

I would like to see Scotland and Wales and Ireland become theire own nations at the Olympics as I feel that its about representing my country,
ALthough a Welsh person I know, calls himself British, not Welsh although if you call him English he gets angry.
Whats with that? I think to end it once and for all the teams should compete for their own countries.

i think liverpool should have independence from the UK.......

I think liverpool should have independence from the UK.......

Ken Dod did just that a lot of years ago, he went on radio and telly saying Liverpool had just got there independence from the UK.
He said the East Lancs was closed, and so where the tunnels, and armed diddey men where holding the borders.

The phone lines to the radio and police and TV where jammed.

Mind you it was the 1st April.
But so many people believed him.

Ken Dod did just that a lot of years ago, he went on radio and telly saying Liverpool had just got there independence from the UK.
He said the East Lancs was closed, and so where the tunnels, and armed diddey men where holding the borders.

The phone lines to the radio and police and TV where jammed.

Mind you it was the 1st April.
But so many people believed him.

That's the best thing I've heard all day!  Exactly when was this Graham?

I'm showing my age up now, but I think it was somewhere around 1980,s.

I don't get this team GB anyway.  Surely it should have been team UK?  The Ulster contingent must have been well p*ssed off.

As a Scouser - a mixture of English, Irish, Welsh and Scottish (not to mention a bit of Norwegian) team UK is fine for me.

If they all went their separate ways I could support all the teams anyway.

As for 2012 let's get something straight.  As they consistently say in the media - IT IS THE LONDON OLYMPICS.

It is currently draining and will continue to drain resources from the rest of the country to the capital, as if they don't get enough already.

So as far as I'm concerned it's nowt to do with me.  I shall just ignore it.  After all it's the LONDON Olympics and I don't come from London.

Ken Dod did just that a lot of years ago, he went on radio and telly saying Liverpool had just got there independence from the UK.
He said the East Lancs was closed, and so where the tunnels, and armed diddey men where holding the borders.

The phone lines to the radio and police and TV where jammed.

Mind you it was the 1st April.

But so many people believed him.

Brilliant... i do remember something......    we dont need em all....ha ha

I don't get this team GB anyway.  Surely it should have been team UK?  The Ulster contingent must have been well p*ssed off.

As a Scouser - a mixture of English, Irish, Welsh and Scottish (not to mention a bit of Norwegian) team UK is fine for me.

If they all went their separate ways I could support all the teams anyway.

As for 2012 let's get something straight.  As they consistently say in the media - IT IS THE LONDON OLYMPICS.

It is currently draining and will continue to drain resources from the rest of the country to the capital, as if they don't get enough already.

So as far as I'm concerned it's nowt to do with me.  I shall just ignore it.  After all it's the LONDON Olympics and I don't come from London.

Sorry Oldred, I will have to disagree with you on this one, yes the Olympics are in London, but it would be no diffrent if they where in the midlands our Scotland.
I'm just made up the UK has the Olympics, Its the people who have put a lot of hard work in, the runners, swimmers so on so on, to get up to Olympic standard, there the ones who get my support.

I love sport, and I have never been to a Olympic games, so god willing I will be at this one in 2012.

yes lets scrap team GB aslong as therey train the own  Olympic teams Chris Hoy may be scottish but he trained in england