An odd decision by the International Gymnastics Federation to prohibit Rhys McClenaghan from partaking in the Commonwealth Games for Northern Ireland. I have seen some commentary on this supporting the decision and alluding to the fact that athletes competing for Ireland in international competitions such as the Olympics are representing 26 counties only and not the island of Ireland. Commonwealth Games: McClenaghan blasts decision to block NI gymnasts from Games - BBC Sport
Will the DUP walk out of the assembly over this?
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If they didn’t have the Brexit card to play they probably would.
I thought all this sort of thing was sport specific, and at the remit of the individual body?
I nearly fell off my pommel horse when i read that this morning
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Ring up and complain.
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There’ll be nobody on the floor before 9. They’ll be all in the vault having breakfast
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They will be in favour of this decision as they think he should be representing Team GB and not Team Ireland.
I would refer back to the open minded words of Edwin Poots when he was interviewed by Stephen Nolan on a bench outside Stormont during his brief time as DUP leader last year.
“I can be Northern Irish because I’m from Northern Ireland, I can be British because I’m from the United Kingdom, I can be Irish because I’m from the island of Ireland, and I can be all of those things at the same time.”
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Yes that is correct. Gymnastics seems to be the outlier however. Those from the north who ordinarily represent Ireland in all other sports (boxing/athletics/cycling/swimming etc) could represent Northern Ireland at the Commonwealth Games. If McClenaghan competed for GB at the Olympics he would be able to represent Northern Ireland at the Commonwealth Games. It seems unfair that he cannot do so as he competes for Ireland but maybe I need to stick my views in the ‘Unpopular opinions or views you hold’ thread?
I’d agree tbh. And the competition would certainly do him no harm you’d have thought.
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