As has been said above, the proper name is the "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland".
Sometimes that gets abbreviated to UK (eg Eurovision) and sometimes it gets abbreviated to GB or GBR (eg Olympics) , but it's the same place.
So, to answer the original questions, yes, the UK does compete internationally and is doing so right now, in the Olympics.
Now, "Holland" and "the Netherlands" on the other hand .......
If "GB" is just a contraction of "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland", then it's a very clumsy, confusing one. "UK" would have been far better.
Having "GB" as a shortened version of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is almost as bad as shortening it to just the last word, "Ireland".
Has Andy Murray never competed in the Commonwealth Games?
intriguing ? .. SO I googled it .. Tennis in the Cwelth games was included first in 2010, Scotland won gold in the mixed doubles, NO Murray in the team .. Tennis has not featured since 2010 and is unlikely to feature in future as tennis is played (seriously) in too few CW nations (says Wiki)
”The British Olympic Association (BOA) is the National Olympic Committee for the United Kingdom. However it is almost unique in that its teams also incorporate representatives from other British dependent territories, who do not have their own separate Olympics teams, but which also excludes some UK citizens from Northern Ireland due to internal governing body territories in sports such as rugby, tennis and field hockey. ”
So is that the answer to the question, it’s Team GB rather than Team UK because UK is inaccurate as Northern Ireland competes as part of all Ireland teams in some sports?
I know that ISO, the international standards body, use GB rather than U.K. in our country designation, apparently this is the explanation:
“Why is the United Kingdom (of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) coded GB in ISO 3166-1?
The codes in ISO 3166-1 are - wherever possible - chosen to reflect the significant, unique component of the country name in order to allow a visual association between country name and country code. Since name components like Republic, Kingdom, United, Federal or Democratic are used very often in country names we usually do not derive the country code elements from them in order to avoid ambiguity. The name components United and Kingdom are not appropriate for ISO 3166-1. Therefore the code "GB" was created from Great Britain and not "UK" for United Kingdom.”
I wonder if they're consistent with this ruling when it comes to the United States..?
I note that the US compete as the United States of America, so maybe that makes it slightly more specific than just United States.
I actually thought ISO giving is GB as our country designation was because “Kingdom” implies something political and thus wasn’t admissible in their naming convention. I can’t actually find evidence of that (but I’m sure I didn’t imagine it!).
If they were just United States then it might flummox the people that shout U-S-A U-S-A.
The names UK & GB are basically the same. The UK is more of a political term whereas GB is more geographical. Both cover the 4 countries of England, Scotland, Wales & NI.
Can the Fenians get on with United Ireland so we can put this one to bed? They already have a population majority. It would put to bed one of the most shocking injustices of British history.
Oh dear. Someone didn't read the whole of the first post.
Certainly did but still no understanding. UK, GB, GB & NI? British? I personally hate labels being part English, Welsh, Jewish and Australian. I have a red passport, does it make me a bolshie?
As has been said above, the proper name is the "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland".
Sometimes that gets abbreviated to UK (eg Eurovision) and sometimes it gets abbreviated to GB or GBR (eg Olympics) , but it's the same place.
So, to answer the original questions, yes, the UK does compete internationally and is doing so right now, in the Olympics.
Now, "Holland" and "the Netherlands" on the other hand .......
If "GB" is just a contraction of "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland", then it's a very clumsy, confusing one. "UK" would have been far better.
Having "GB" as a shortened version of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is almost as bad as shortening it to just the last word, "Ireland".
We compete at the Olympics under the name Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Why the United Kingdom part gets omitted, I don't know.
I know that ISO, the international standards body, use GB rather than U.K. in our country designation, apparently this is the explanation:
“Why is the United Kingdom (of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) coded GB in ISO 3166-1?
The codes in ISO 3166-1 are - wherever possible - chosen to reflect the significant, unique component of the country name in order to allow a visual association between country name and country code. Since name components like Republic, Kingdom, United, Federal or Democratic are used very often in country names we usually do not derive the country code elements from them in order to avoid ambiguity. The name components United and Kingdom are not appropriate for ISO 3166-1. Therefore the code "GB" was created from Great Britain and not "UK" for United Kingdom.”
I wonder if they're consistent with this ruling when it comes to the United States..?
As their statement includes the word “usually”, they are 100% consistent - usually they don’t is the same as sometimes they do.
Not quite (and I’ve got an O Level in logic to show I know what I’m talking about). Sometimes they do doesn’t negate or contradict usually they don’t but it isn’t the same and neither can be concluded from the other.
Isn't the official full title of our Olympic team, Great Britain and Northern Ireland; which is usually abbreviated to GB. Any Northern Ireland sportsman would compete for us. Unless I'm mistaken they are also eligible for lottery funding.
GB and GBR are the IBAN two and 3 letter country codes for "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland" List of country codes by alpha-2, alpha-3 code (ISO 3166) (iban.com) and so when we compete at GB, we are competing as UK, it's just not abbreviated as that. Same 2 letter codes are used for other things, like trade marks and patent applications - GB is the 2 letter code, but the rights cover northern ireland as well.
And currency: GBP is the ISO code for the currency of the U.K.
I know that ISO, the international standards body, use GB rather than U.K. in our country designation, apparently this is the explanation:
“Why is the United Kingdom (of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) coded GB in ISO 3166-1?
The codes in ISO 3166-1 are - wherever possible - chosen to reflect the significant, unique component of the country name in order to allow a visual association between country name and country code. Since name components like Republic, Kingdom, United, Federal or Democratic are used very often in country names we usually do not derive the country code elements from them in order to avoid ambiguity. The name components United and Kingdom are not appropriate for ISO 3166-1. Therefore the code "GB" was created from Great Britain and not "UK" for United Kingdom.”
I wonder if they're consistent with this ruling when it comes to the United States..?
I note that the US compete as the United States of America, so maybe that makes it slightly more specific than just United States.
I actually thought ISO giving is GB as our country designation was because “Kingdom” implies something political and thus wasn’t admissible in their naming convention. I can’t actually find evidence of that (but I’m sure I didn’t imagine it!).
If they were just United States then it might flummox the people that shout U-S-A U-S-A.
As has been said above, the proper name is the "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland".
Sometimes that gets abbreviated to UK (eg Eurovision) and sometimes it gets abbreviated to GB or GBR (eg Olympics) , but it's the same place.
So, to answer the original questions, yes, the UK does compete internationally and is doing so right now, in the Olympics.
Now, "Holland" and "the Netherlands" on the other hand .......
If "GB" is just a contraction of "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland", then it's a very clumsy, confusing one. "UK" would have been far better.
Having "GB" as a shortened version of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is almost as bad as shortening it to just the last word, "Ireland".
I don't make the rules mate - am just explaining how it is.
But reading this thread I think some people are beyond help in trying to understand something so (relatively) simple!
I know that ISO, the international standards body, use GB rather than U.K. in our country designation, apparently this is the explanation:
“Why is the United Kingdom (of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) coded GB in ISO 3166-1?
The codes in ISO 3166-1 are - wherever possible - chosen to reflect the significant, unique component of the country name in order to allow a visual association between country name and country code. Since name components like Republic, Kingdom, United, Federal or Democratic are used very often in country names we usually do not derive the country code elements from them in order to avoid ambiguity. The name components United and Kingdom are not appropriate for ISO 3166-1. Therefore the code "GB" was created from Great Britain and not "UK" for United Kingdom.”
I mean, this guy literally told you all why it's shortened to "GB" hours ago, but still there's confusion?!
As has been said above, it's proper name is the "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland".
Sometimes that gets abbreviated to UK (eg Eurovision) and sometimes it gets abbreviated to GB or GBR (eg Olympics) , but it's the same place.
So, to answer the original questions, yes, the UK does compete internationally and is doing so right now, in the Olympics.
Now, "Holland" and "the Netherlands" on the other hand .......
Right, but Great Britain is not the same as the United Kingdom - a) Great Britain isn’t the name of a country, it’s the name of an island (I.e it’s a geographic term rather than a political one), b) Great Britain doesn’t include Northern Ireland whereas United Kingdom does.
The only other country I can think of that doesn’t compete under the actual name of their country is Taiwan (who compete as Taipei).
"Taiwan" is officially the "the Republic of China". They only compete as Taipei so as not to piss off the People's Republic of China.
Deliberately strange question, but I wondered if the United Kingdom ever competes in international sports? I have never really thought about it in the past and I can't think of any - although I am sure there must be.
England compete in many of the most important sports: football, cricket, rugby, etc. (Although, officially, the England cricket team is the team of the England and Wales cricket board).
GB is represented in the Olympics and the Davis Cup.
"The UK and Ireland" is represented by the British and Irish Lions (and any other sports..?)
"Europe" competes in the Ryder Cup.
But is there a sport or competition in which "the UK" participates?
It's interesting that Andy Murray has competed for GB, but never Scotland; Rory McIlroy, born in the UK, has competed for Europe (in the Ryder Cup) and Ireland (in the Olympics) but never (as far as I am aware) for the country of his birth, the UK.
I am sure the CL hive mind will be able to point out if there are sports in which the UK participates, and if there are anomalies in how "our" international sports teams are named.
(To be crystal clear, this is NOT an invitation to discuss "foreigners", nation states, whether or not Scotland should be independent, Brexit, the unification of Ireland, what colour passports are. It's about the names under which UK sports people compete, internationally).
I’ll edit that, king James vi of Scotland became the first king of Great Britain James I
Deliberately strange question, but I wondered if the United Kingdom ever competes in international sports? I have never really thought about it in the past and I can't think of any - although I am sure there must be.
England compete in many of the most important sports: football, cricket, rugby, etc. (Although, officially, the England cricket team is the team of the England and Wales cricket board).
GB is represented in the Olympics and the Davis Cup.
"The UK and Ireland" is represented by the British and Irish Lions (and any other sports..?)
"Europe" competes in the Ryder Cup.
But is there a sport or competition in which "the UK" participates?
It's interesting that Andy Murray has competed for GB, but never Scotland; Rory McIlroy, born in the UK, has competed for Europe (in the Ryder Cup) and Ireland (in the Olympics) but never (as far as I am aware) for the country of his birth, the UK.
I am sure the CL hive mind will be able to point out if there are sports in which the UK participates, and if there are anomalies in how "our" international sports teams are named.
(To be crystal clear, this is NOT an invitation to discuss "foreigners", nation states, whether or not Scotland should be independent, Brexit, the unification of Ireland, what colour passports are. It's about the names under which UK sports people compete, internationally).
I’ll edit that, king James vi of Scotland became the first king of Great Britain James I
you’re all Scottish
That family line for shuffler in slight acrimony a generation or two later!
As has been said above, it's proper name is the "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland".
Sometimes that gets abbreviated to UK (eg Eurovision) and sometimes it gets abbreviated to GB or GBR (eg Olympics) , but it's the same place.
So, to answer the original questions, yes, the UK does compete internationally and is doing so right now, in the Olympics.
Now, "Holland" and "the Netherlands" on the other hand .......
Right, but Great Britain is not the same as the United Kingdom - a) Great Britain isn’t the name of a country, it’s the name of an island (I.e it’s a geographic term rather than a political one), b) Great Britain doesn’t include Northern Ireland whereas United Kingdom does.
The only other country I can think of that doesn’t compete under the actual name of their country is Taiwan (who compete as Taipei).
"Taiwan" is officially the "the Republic of China". They only compete as Taipei so as not to piss off the People's Republic of China.
Yep.
So just us and Taiwan who don’t compete under their countries actual name?
As has been said above, it's proper name is the "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland".
Sometimes that gets abbreviated to UK (eg Eurovision) and sometimes it gets abbreviated to GB or GBR (eg Olympics) , but it's the same place.
So, to answer the original questions, yes, the UK does compete internationally and is doing so right now, in the Olympics.
Now, "Holland" and "the Netherlands" on the other hand .......
Right, but Great Britain is not the same as the United Kingdom - a) Great Britain isn’t the name of a country, it’s the name of an island (I.e it’s a geographic term rather than a political one), b) Great Britain doesn’t include Northern Ireland whereas United Kingdom does.
The only other country I can think of that doesn’t compete under the actual name of their country is Taiwan (who compete as Taipei).
"Taiwan" is officially the "the Republic of China". They only compete as Taipei so as not to piss off the People's Republic of China.
Yep.
So just us and Taiwan who don’t compete under their countries actual name?
There's loads who don't compete under their "official" name and use an abbreviation for general use.
"Cuba", "South Korea", "North Korea" (if they're not banned), "Brazil", "France", "Germany" ..... the list goes on and on.
As has been said above, it's proper name is the "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland".
Sometimes that gets abbreviated to UK (eg Eurovision) and sometimes it gets abbreviated to GB or GBR (eg Olympics) , but it's the same place.
So, to answer the original questions, yes, the UK does compete internationally and is doing so right now, in the Olympics.
Now, "Holland" and "the Netherlands" on the other hand .......
Right, but Great Britain is not the same as the United Kingdom - a) Great Britain isn’t the name of a country, it’s the name of an island (I.e it’s a geographic term rather than a political one), b) Great Britain doesn’t include Northern Ireland whereas United Kingdom does.
The only other country I can think of that doesn’t compete under the actual name of their country is Taiwan (who compete as Taipei).
"Taiwan" is officially the "the Republic of China". They only compete as Taipei so as not to piss off the People's Republic of China.
Yep.
So just us and Taiwan who don’t compete under their countries actual name?
Are France competing under the name Republique France? How about Reino de Espana? There are loads of countries that drop kingdom, republic, etc. from their name in daily use.
As has been said above, it's proper name is the "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland".
Sometimes that gets abbreviated to UK (eg Eurovision) and sometimes it gets abbreviated to GB or GBR (eg Olympics) , but it's the same place.
So, to answer the original questions, yes, the UK does compete internationally and is doing so right now, in the Olympics.
Now, "Holland" and "the Netherlands" on the other hand .......
Right, but Great Britain is not the same as the United Kingdom - a) Great Britain isn’t the name of a country, it’s the name of an island (I.e it’s a geographic term rather than a political one), b) Great Britain doesn’t include Northern Ireland whereas United Kingdom does.
The only other country I can think of that doesn’t compete under the actual name of their country is Taiwan (who compete as Taipei).
"Taiwan" is officially the "the Republic of China". They only compete as Taipei so as not to piss off the People's Republic of China.
Yep.
So just us and Taiwan who don’t compete under their countries actual name?
Are France competing under the name Republique France? How about Reino de Espana? There are loads of countries that drop kingdom, republic, etc. from their name in daily use.
I’m pretty sure French competitors are competing under the name France, which is the key component of the official name of their country (and, for all intents and purposes, is the name of their country). Great Britain is not the name of a country at all, it’s the geographic name of an island so it’s not equivalent to a French competitor competing for France.
Deliberately strange question, but I wondered if the United Kingdom ever competes in international sports? I have never really thought about it in the past and I can't think of any - although I am sure there must be.
England compete in many of the most important sports: football, cricket, rugby, etc. (Although, officially, the England cricket team is the team of the England and Wales cricket board).
GB is represented in the Olympics and the Davis Cup.
"The UK and Ireland" is represented by the British and Irish Lions (and any other sports..?)
"Europe" competes in the Ryder Cup.
But is there a sport or competition in which "the UK" participates?
It's interesting that Andy Murray has competed for GB, but never Scotland; Rory McIlroy, born in the UK, has competed for Europe (in the Ryder Cup) and Ireland (in the Olympics) but never (as far as I am aware) for the country of his birth, the UK.
I am sure the CL hive mind will be able to point out if there are sports in which the UK participates, and if there are anomalies in how "our" international sports teams are named.
(To be crystal clear, this is NOT an invitation to discuss "foreigners", nation states, whether or not Scotland should be independent, Brexit, the unification of Ireland, what colour passports are. It's about the names under which UK sports people compete, internationally).
I’ll edit that, king James vi of Scotland became the first king of Great Britain James I
you’re all Scottish
Nope. James remained James VI of Scotland and was at the same time James of England. The crowns were not united until the Act of Union of 1707 under Queen Anne who became the first monarch of a United Kingdom. Anne was born at St James Palace
A very enjoyable demonstration tonight in the swimming of how Northern Ireland fits into things - anyone born there who's entitled to British citizenship is also entitled to Irish and they can choose to be either or both. So tonight Jack McMillan who's from Northern Ireland won a gold medal as part of the British relay team (he swam in the qualifiers) shortly after Daniel Wiffen from Northern Ireland won a gold medal in the 800m freestyle for Ireland.
It becomes an issue for team sports where NI is treated as part of a united Ireland while England Scotland and Wales compete as separate teams, which includes rugby and hockey. The IOC won't let people compete for the UK if they normally play for Ireland, which becomes a problem for some people, particularly those who play for Ireland but identify as British. But for individual sports, or sports like swimming where it's normally a UK team with England, Scotland, Wales and NI all forming teams just for the Commonwealth Games, people can simply choose one or the other.
Comments
Having "GB" as a shortened version of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is almost as bad as shortening it to just the last word, "Ireland".
”The British Olympic Association (BOA) is the National Olympic Committee for the United Kingdom. However it is almost unique in that its teams also incorporate representatives from other British dependent territories, who do not have their own separate Olympics teams, but which also excludes some UK citizens from Northern Ireland due to internal governing body territories in sports such as rugby, tennis and field hockey. ”
So is that the answer to the question, it’s Team GB rather than Team UK because UK is inaccurate as Northern Ireland competes as part of all Ireland teams in some sports?
We compete at the Olympics under the name Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Why the United Kingdom part gets omitted, I don't know.
But reading this thread I think some people are beyond help in trying to understand something so (relatively) simple!
you’re all Scottish
So just us and Taiwan who don’t compete under their countries actual name?
"Cuba", "South Korea", "North Korea" (if they're not banned), "Brazil", "France", "Germany" ..... the list goes on and on.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_alternative_country_names
When the UK left the EU, why did the country sticker for cars change to UK?
It becomes an issue for team sports where NI is treated as part of a united Ireland while England Scotland and Wales compete as separate teams, which includes rugby and hockey. The IOC won't let people compete for the UK if they normally play for Ireland, which becomes a problem for some people, particularly those who play for Ireland but identify as British. But for individual sports, or sports like swimming where it's normally a UK team with England, Scotland, Wales and NI all forming teams just for the Commonwealth Games, people can simply choose one or the other.