Call for national teams to include the EU flag on their shirts

Paul Dancey on 13/02/2012

By an overwhelming majority, the European Parliament has backed a call for national sports teams to wear the EU flag on their shirts, and for the EU flag to be flown at major international sporting events in Europe.

Both of these measures would be voluntary, and are contained in a wide ranging report that it is hoped will provide a suitable framework for the creation of a European sports policy.

The reports recommendations will now be considered by the European Commission.

The British Conservative spokesperson on sport and culture in the European Parliament, Emma McClarkin, voiced her party's concerns over the new measures, and said: "Sport has a special place in my country, and our national teams form a key part of our identities and heritage.

"The EU cannot impose an artificial European identity on us by forcing our athletes to wear its emblem."

Whilst Liam Aylward, an Irish Fianna Fail MEP, commended the report as a "strong framework to create a European sports policy that is based on social inclusion and enhancing sport in Europe".
Source: BBC

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