to think that if you're in Team GB you should sing the national anthem

[ClaireFromWork]

Ddail Mail I'm afraid but honestly, if you're in a team that represents the United Kingdom then surely you should be prepared to sing it. Esp if you're captain of the team.

linky

Why do you think your issue is bigger than hers, claire? I don't see what's wrong with her being in team gb and not singing, nor do the organizers or they'd insist - so why do you feel your personal preference for her to sing matters more than supporting your country's best sportspeople?

Unless I'm mistaken, Kim Little hasn't been all over the media making a big fuss about plans not to sing GSTQ, so hardly making a big political point.

If there hadn't been the gimlet eyed DM and pals making a big deal of this (as they fill in their not-singing-anthem spreadsheet) then noone would have noticed nor cared.

Actually, if I read correctly the Scottish girl said it was a "personal choice". She didn't attach any political views to it. The ENGLISH media (who keep referring to GB team as ENGLAND) did, however.

Why are the Olympics about countries competing with each other anyway?

Why not just have individuals competing to be the best at something?

Where you were born is just a quirk of fate anyway.

I look at this through the lens of a republican, atheist Scot (but not a Nat). Why on earth would I want to sing God Save the Queen?

They stood, they kept quite and didn't do anything inappropriate. IMO that is sufficient.

On the other hand, I don't think the athletes should be making political comments about it, either in directly or via family. That makes the team look worse IMO than standing quietly during a ceremony.

Have any English athletes stood quietly instead of singing? I'm not convinced the DM would report it if they did.

What really pisses me off is when the England players don't sing on international duty but I suspect it's be abuse they don't know the words

Crocodile hmm, perhaps I shall try telling people I'm from Scotland! (they'll still think it's part of England, though! Someone here has even told me they visited "Edinburgh in Scotland, which is in the north of England"

they maybe dont know the second verse stop reading the daily mail and enjoy the olympics It is just a song it doesnt mean they dont love representing their country,

I used to be in lots of sports competitions when I was a teenager and never used to sing the anthem or stand up for it. At the time I strongly disagreed that the country should have a monarchy so I refused to take part. I was proud to be taking part in country wide competitions and proud to be part of my country but I wasn't going to sing the praises of a queen I didn't believe should be in 'post'.

My feelings have mellowed as the younger generation of monarchy come forward but I still don't think I would sing the anthem.

I look at this way. Do they show their pride in representing their country by training for 30 hours a week for years in the hope of peforming well or by singing a bloody song.

Surely this is an absolute non-issue.
Why would anyone care if an athlete sings the anthem ?

Trills - we have that in every world championship / cup already. The Olympics is quintessentially about national competition and representing your nation.

I don't think my issue is greater than hers, LRD. I never said i did, I just don't agree with personal politics in sport.

There are 2 verses?!

God save our queen
god save our gracious queen
god save our holy queen
god save our queen

Save her victorious
happy and glorious
long may she reign over us
god save our queen

That's it right?

Noooo Stranded. There are 3 verses but only the first and last are used because the second is a bit empirish.

God save our gracious Queen,
Long live our noble Queen,
God save The Queen
Send her victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us:
God save The Queen.

O Lord, our God, arise,
Scatter her enemies,
And make them fall.
Confound their politics,
Frustrate their knavish tricks,
On Thee our hopes we fix,
God save us all.

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!

There are others but those are the official ones.

I hope they get booed. I will not be cheering for any of them.

Fuck I was waaaay off!

Nobody can be compelled to sing the anthem. Individuals have the right to do as they wish in this situation.

It's just a whole lot of hot air stoked up by a right wing newspaper in order to provoke.

yanbu at all, total hypocrytes

Denise you hope they get booed?

Proud Brit right here. As a republican I'd much rather have the national anthem as Land of Hope and Glory. It's a free country, why should they have to sing.

Actually there are six verses:

1. God save our gracious Queen

Long live our noble Queen God save the Queen Send her victorious Happy and glorious Long to reign over us God save the Queen

1. O Lord our God arise

Scatter her enemies And make them fall Confound their politics Frustrate their knavish tricks On Thee our hopes we fix God save us all

1. 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

1. Not in this land alone

But be God's mercies known From shore to shore Lord make the nations see That men should brothers be And form one family The wide world over

1. From every latent foe

From the assassins blow God save the Queen O'er her thine arm extend For Britain's sake defend Our mother, prince, and friend God save the Queen

1. Lord grant that Marshal Wade

May by thy mighty aid Victory bring May he sedition hush And like a torrent rush Rebellious Scots to crush God save the Queen

You can see why the Scots in particular ardn't too keen on it.

Stranded, I love that you thought one line was God save our holy queen!

National anthems should be more upbeat!

Piglet, surely it would be hypocritical of them to sing something they don't believe in?

Although as AKMD says some of those may have now been relegated to unofficial status.

and

In my defence I have only ever heard the anthem at football matches, it's difficult to hear the words