Hi folks. There's been a little bit of discussion in Scotland about trying to get our own Olympic team in time for 2012 so that Scots are representing Scotland instead of GB. Just like we already do in the football and Rugby. I was wondering what you lot would think about that?

I guess this would mean England, Wales and Northern Ireland having seperate teams as well, and each athlete representing their particular country instead of the whole of the UK.

So, if Paula Radcliffe was running for England would that make her gold medal more precious to you? Or would you prefer Paula to be winning gold for Britain?

I guess it comes down to what makes you feel more patriotic - the Union Jack or the Cross of St George? What says CSP?

When ever I have to fill out form requiring nationality I always write British and proud of it.

We all got a little bit of this and that in us. Especially during these turbulent times lets show what’s great about Britain and fly our nations flag with pride.

england for me aswell

this is why we cant have a gb football team in the olympics,they are scared that it would be the end on individual teams.ie england scotland wales.

i dont see why we cant have both,like in rugby.the lions and individual.

So what you are saying is you would prefer to have separate Olympic teams?

If your Scottish and one of your athletes are competing then wave whatever flag you like. I think it would be a shame to separate us.

So you only cheer and encourage if their English?

I could watch someone from whatever country and if I think they are an exceptional Olympian then I get a lump in my throat. Because they are and have something in them that I could never have and yes I would cheer them on.

But then again I'm probably more passionate then you...

Well at least  you won't go horse from all that cheering...

I am English first and foremost and therefore support England.

I do however support all the 'home' countries but I cannot understand why we join together for 'Olympic' sports.

Then again the West Indies are the opposite they have one team for cricket but at the Olympics they compete as Barbados, Trinidad etc.

i admire and applaud your sentiments. I don't mind what flag is being waved. St Georges, St Andrews, Red Dragon or even the Irish tri-colours. We know what that represents. Britain

However,  how come as a country we do bugger all on St Georges Day?

Last year good old Mayor Ken turned down an application to have a St George's Day parade. He said it may upset people. But it was okay to have a St Patrick's Day parade!!

Nothing personal, but many up here would support even the Martians if they were playing against England at any sport.

Unfortunately for yourselves, you cannot know what it is like for others such as Welsh, Irish and Scots as we are badly represented in the national media. Forget BBC, it's more EBC, and that really gets to people in Scotland.

There's no hatred for English people as such, but there is an enormous outpouring of venom towards the media who only have eyes for England.

Just my opinion...

As a Nationalist, it's my dream to see MY country's flag, the Saltire, flying alongside others at the Olympics and other worldwide events and institutions. When I see the Union Jack, it only strengthens my resolve. Vast majority of people I've spoken to couldn't give a jot that London has the games in 2012, can't see how it will benefit the UK.

P.S. The good folk of CSP can apply to become an affiliate of Scotland when we're free and you'll be looked favourably upon.

I feel a  Town Twinning...

Thanks for the feedback so far. It's interesting to get peoples opinions on this from afar.

I must admit I'm happier to see England fans waving the right flag. It's always annoyed me when they wave union flags - cos it's not Englands flag. Likewise at the Olympics when people are cheering on athletes representing Britain by waving St Georges Crosses I'm yelling my head off at the telly!!!  

We are a small country of only 5 million people annexed onto a dominant neighbour with 55 million people, so these things are probably much more important to us than they are to you. I guess some of you may even think it's trivial.

Anyway keep the feedback coming...

I definately support the idea of an England Olympics team.

So what if we don't get as many medals, each medal will be worth more.

A British team is no better than a European team. The farce of the British and Irish Lions caps it all.

Eddie wrote: Jenny wrote: Last year good old Mayor Ken turned down an application to have a St George's Day parade. He said it may upset people. But it was okay to have a St Patrick's Day parade!! Absolute rubbish Ken supported LOADS of things http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/culture/stgeorge05.jsp - http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/culture/stgeorge05.jsp

But that was just an event - no parade was allowed. According to the same site, St Patricks Day is a Festival.

St Patricks day is nothing more than a very clever worldwide Guinness marketing ploy.

My mother in law is from Dublin and they never celebrated it when she was a girl. Likewise in Scotland, very few people could actually tell you when St Andrews day is, but my wifes work always seem to organise a dinner dance for Paddies day.

Go figure...

And guinness is turd gravy! Can I say that on here?

Watch out Pierre will borrow it to go along side his signiture...

Malc London wrote: I definately support the idea of an England Olympics team. So what if we don't get as many medals, each medal will be worth more. A British team is no better than a European team. The farce of the British and Irish Lions caps it all.

Good post with which I concur (if you substitute Scotland for England obviously)

It is pleasing to see an increased awareness of national identity amongst sports fans and the population in general in England. I think it can only benefit all four nations to have separate teams. 

If you gave Scotland home rule, no support from England..........How long would it be before scotland was a banana republic......?????..

Good subject for a poll, I think...

Off topic Tobic, but every similar sized nation in the world with similar infrastructure who have recently gained independence has managed healthy growth and has flourishing economy. At the moment Scotlands economy is performing extremely poorly in relation to the rest of the UK, so the Union is not exactly working for us. And we are at the mercy of Bank of England interest rates etc which are fixed to suit what is best for London and the South East.

For info, independent research (ie. not carried out by Scottish Nationalists) has shown that conservative estimates of remaining oil reserves in the Scottish sector of the North Sea amounts to over £100,000 per man, woman and child living in Scotland. If I can be bothered and if you're interested I'll find a link to this for you.

That is how much it is costing us to be in the Union. So this myth that everyone is happy to believe about Scotland being some kind of subsidy junkie is completely false. We pay more than our share of the bills.

In any event, this has nothing to do with the Olympic team question....