to think it should be team UK not team GB

[bluepears]

they represent the United kingdom as people from northern Ireland compete for team gb (and yes i know isle of man and channel islands do aswell) so the term uk would not accurately describe our team but it would be more correct than team GB

I am Manx (isle of Man)

We have representatives competing for team Gb at the moment, and for the summer Olympic team.

For the commonwealth games we compete independently.

We are not in the U.K., or Great Britain, or EU.

We have our own currency (although a Manx pound note is worth the same as a U.K. pound coin) our own laws, and our government is a lot older than the UKs.

It’s very complicated, and occasionally causes major headaches with suppliers and distribution agreements geared for EU, health insurance, getting credit cards etc.

I thought that people from NI could choose to represent either GB or the Republic in international sporting events ?

@Bluepears we are not oart of the British Isles. There is no such geographical area as the British Isles, it is a historical construct from the days England invaded and colonised other countries. Just because you call it the Bristish Isles does not make it so.

I thought NI athletes could choose whether they wanted to represent GB or Ireland.

There is no such geographical area as the British Isles

Well what would you call the large archipelago in the N Atlantic off the coast of France?

Ireland is not, I repeat NOT part of the British Isles!!!!!

Then what, is the geographical name for the group islands currently ruled by the UK, Ireland and the govt. of the Isle of Man?

The sovereign state of the Republic of Ireland is part of the geographical area known as The British Isles. Or have I gone mad? Why are people saying it isn’t?

Ireland is not, I repeat NOT part of the British Isles!!!!!

Better tell the rest of the internet including the Irish Post who say it is...

www.irishpost.co.uk/life-style/difference-uk-britain-british-isles-north-south-ireland-explained-85459

There is a map in that article you have linked to that shows Ireland is part of the British Isles

Oh sorry Lanbshank, I only saw the first part of your post on my crap browser, didn’t know you were quoting. Apols.

have it out with the oxford dictionary they define words 'A group of islands lying off the coast of north-western Europe, from which they are separated by the North Sea and the English Channel. They include Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Isle of Wight, the Hebrides, the Orkney Islands, the Shetland Islands, the Scilly Isles, and the Channel Islands.' but by your logic there is no place called ulster

the article you linked proves me right it says 'It refers to a collection of islands in the Atlantic to the Northwest of continental Europe – including the Republic of Ireland (it's ok, breathe, breathe) and the 5000 or so smaller islands scattered around our coasts.' you should read articles before you put them on mumsnet

There is a naming dispute over the isles.

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Isles_naming_dispute

But the name ‘British Isles’ doesn’t seem to come from English colonialism, as the pp suggested.

British Isles is a political construct. GB, UK and their colonies and the servile ex-colonies are most welcome to treasure their love of Britishness but they should leave the Republic of Ireland out of it.

It is the same as Brexit, when it is actually UKexit.

What is shocking is how little time in school geography is spent obtaining an understanding of the country we live in.

The discussions surrounding the Irish border and brexit have been particularly depressing for me as so few British people actually understand what constitutes Britain and the UK.

The media have a lot to do with it, prioritising catchy names over accuracy.

@TheIcon But it's been established on this thread that Britain is the island that consists of England, Scotland and Wales. So those 50% from the 2/3 of Ulster who claim to be British aren't as they aren't from Britain.

If they want to self identify as British, then let them. But they're as British as Lily Madigan is a woman.

I'm not sure if you're being deliberately or accidentally offensive here.

First, as has been explained, "British" is the term for the nationality of someone from the UK. There is no "UKish" nationality. This is a point of grammar/vocabulary, not politics.

Secondly, those born in NI are entitled to British or Irish nationality, or both, depending on their own personal preference. This is under the Good Friday Agreement, a peace treaty which ended a civil war. Those of us in NI are feeling pretty darn tetchy about it ATM since it is under threat from Brexit.

If you're posting as an NI nationalist, refusing to acknowledge the British citizenship of your fellow NI citizens, that kind of thinking does NI no good and only drags us back. If you're posting from a position of cluelessness, then I would say it's pretty ignorant to post so definitely about such a sensitive issue.

Perhaps each country should simply compete for themselves?

GB means England/Scotland/Wales
No, it doesn't. Great Britain is a single island amongst the thousands of islands in the British Isles. The Isle of Wight, the Isle of Anglesey and the Orkney Islands (and many other islands) are not part of Great Britain.

Oh, of course it does!! Moron that I am.

Hi Eminybob Waves at fellow Channel Islander (and misses point of thread).

It was not a problem when I was younger as we seldom won many medals!

Can it be Team UK, though? That would still be inaccurate as the Channel Islands compete in the British team..

Team Britain might be a more accurate option.

These threads always bring out the Channel Islanders

The Team GB doesn’t bother me but I can see why the Northern Irish might have a problem especially at the moment.

Isle of Man not in GB or UK.