Now EU Bids to Hijack Olympic Glory
by Steve Doughty and Matthew Bailey

British athletes could have to compete under the European flag at future Olympics in a remarkable attempt by Brussels to hijack their success. EU leaders want all member countries to carry the blue 12-star banner as well as their own flag, starting at the next Games in Beijing.

Behind the move is the desire to present the United States of Europe as the world's major sporting power - EU nations won 286 medals in Athens compared with 103 for the US.

But the Brussels grab for the spoils of sporting victory was condemned by Britain's gold medal winners as they arrived home last night to a heroes' welcome. Kelly Holmes, queen of the 800 and 1500 metres, said: "It's not something I'd like to see."

Rower James Cracknell said: "This seems silly. I'm happy with the British flag, thank you." And sprinter Darren Campbell said: "If that happens I won't be there. I am British and proud to be representing Britain. I won't be competing under any other flag, ever. This is completely stupid."

British Olympians gained an historic haul of 30 medals including nine golds in Athens and repeatedly draped themselves in the Union Flag following their victories.

But last night, European Commission President, Romano Prodi, took the unprecedented step of claiming that medal successes belonged not to any one country but to Europe - and that in future athletes should be made to show it.

"In 2008 I hope to see the EU member state teams in Beijing carry the flag of the European Union alongside their own national flag as a symbol of our unity," he said.

Mr Prodi's spokesman, Reijo Kemppinen, described the EU's 'magnificent performance' as led by Germany, which took 14 gold medals and 48 medals in total at the Athens' Games, with France, Italy and Britain close behind. He also said that by the time of the Beijing Olympics in 2008, countries such as Bulgaria and Romania are likely to have joined the EU, boosting its performance to 'rival the dominance of Far Eastern countries' in sports such as weight lifting and gymnastics.

Mr Kemppinen himself comes from Finland, where the population is demanding an inquest into the failure of the country with a strong athletic tradition to win a single gold medal in the Athens games.

The British Olympic Association said the proposal was unrealistic. Spokesman Philip Pope said: "Under the Olympic charter any competing nation has to be an internationally recognised state. Until the EU becomes an internationally recognised state we will be marching as Great Britain."

However the EU will become an internationally recognised state by 2008 if its new constitution is accepted.

It could demand recognition from the International Olympic Committee, which could then insist in turn that British athletes carry an EU flag alongside the Union Flag.

This is the latest in the series of clumsy assaults on Britain's independent standing by Mr Prodi. Last month he alarmed Chancellor Gordon Brown by demanding an end to Britain's £3 billion-a-year rebate on contributions to Brussels won 20 years ago by Mrs Thatcher.

During the summer he warned of heavy consequences and legal ramifications if Britain fails to ratify the EU constitution following the referendum promised by Tony Blair.

Mr Prodi is to step down in October and his imminent departure is likely to have left him feeling free to express federalist opinions that he knows will outrage the British public.

However the Olympic flag idea lays down a marker for his successor, Portuguese politician Jose Manuel Durao Barrosa, to follow.

Allan Wells, the Scottish sprinter who won the 100 meters at the 1980 Games in Moscow, said it would detract from the honour of being picked to represent Great Britain.

"We already march as a united England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland," he said. "I don't think we want to dilute it any more."
Daily Mail, 31st August 2004

Further Resources
Fed up with the EU and the dangers it presents to UK independence and sovereignty? Spread the word to friends with The Real Face of the European Union by Phillip Day, a video documentary (PAL format only) which lays out the serious problems with the European Union and what you can do about it. Also, don't miss the two following incisive commentaries on the dangers of Britain's involvement with the EU:

Ten Minutes to Midnight by Phillip Day
Vigilance by Ashley Mote
Click here to purchase or review any of the above.
Click here for telephone sales around the world.