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Gareth Bale is modelling the new limited edition Team GB London 2012 adidas shirt.
The limited edition commemorative shirt will be available here in November but will not be worn by the players during the Games.
A British Olympic Association spokesman said Bale was a natural choice to be used in the photograph.
He told the BBC: 'We have maintained all along that Team GB will allow for the consideration, and possible inclusion, of players from any of the Home Nations, so it only makes sense that Gareth would appear in the photo.'
But the Welsh FA are unlikely to be pleased with Bale's decision to wear the top given their opposition to Team GB.
The official team kit will be launched next year.
Thanks to Nek
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Comments
...Nice shirt just think the wtermarking is a bit too broad...
7/10
Question - do YOU trust Sepp Blatter and his cronies at FIFA to maintain the agreement of the four home nations to compete as seperate teams in international football?
I tell you, I certainly don't. The fact that Blatter isn't to be trusted at all costs, the fact that many of his cronies, past and present, have advocated the concept of a UK national team, and the fact that FIFA want to disband the IFAB because of the four home nations' presence, is stark enough warning and good reason why the FAW, IFA and SFA are so hotly against Team GB.
The fact that most foreign people think the UK and England are interchangeable terms could well be another reason. The fact the FA were approached before any boycott took place to administer the team is enough proof.
Call yourself Welsh and proud? This could spell the end of the Welsh football team, how would you feel about that?
I don't think the FA would be too fussed if the English national team disappeared, in fact they would stand to gain a lot more. The fact that the BOA gave them control of the team speaks volumes.
As with what happened with the DFB when Germany was reunified, the FA would be desginated as the successor governing body, and hence the Premier League and FA Cup would effectively continue, with the only difference of course being that all teams in the UK would be eligible.
It is not utter nonsense that FIFA would never force the home nations to play as the UK. There have been many leaked documents in the past that has suggested the will of many FIFA members for a UK team. There was an incident in the 80's where the Uruguayan FA pushed the issue because they weren't happy at the home nations' influence on the game (mainly through IFAB, of which the home nations have four votes, and FIFA the other four). The issue of IFAB has been a contentious one as FIFA has previously sought full control over the rules of the game. Many of their directives have been defeated in IFAB meetings because the home nations voted against them, causing deadlock.
There isn't hype to believe, this is a very real problem.
There is no 'real problem' - of course the home nations' teams won't be abolished. As Welshandproud rightly says, it's embarrassing.
The DFB is an awful example because the country itself was reunited as a federal republic, and is politically different in structure to the UK. There have been separate home nation FAs throughout the British Union. You think one Olympic games is going to change that?
There are small-minded elements in the Celtic nations, just like there are in England, who will jump at any chance to feel victimised.
Paranoia, there's no other word to describe it.
You sir are an ass!
How am I an ass, keyboard warrior?
And anyway, it's spelt A-R-S-E have you know
grammar is irrelevant the message remains the same YOU ARE BOTH AN ARSE AND AN ASS
ps wales are shite
Football hasn't had any place in the Olympics after the 1928 event, because FIFA introduced the World Cup, the pinnacle of any footballer's career. And looking at who Wales have to face in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers, I would say this is possibly our best chance of qualifying in 20 years if they keep playing the way they have been in recent months, and then the likes of Bale, Ramsey, Allen, etc. would be playing on the biggest stage of any footballer's career.
But instead, this has happened. The mere thought of Bale standing to attention to "God Save The Queen" makes me physically sick.
See you all next month for the Wales v Norway game where there promises to be a noisy protest against Team GB and Bale, if he plays (if Speed has sense he won't pick him), will expect a very hot reception.
Yeh because the french team would have the british emblem printed on their kit aswell???
Wake up and smell the roast lamb it's the Olympics and when will you lot EVER get into a national tournament ???
We have been in a major national tournament before, the 1958 World Cup. As I said earlier, we have a good chance of qualifying for the 2014 World Cup, as the rest of the teams in the group are around about the same level. That is what the likes of Bale should think about, not something that is backed to the teeth by the likes of the BBC, Seb Coe and the corporate, Union Rag waving penpushers.
Club football has absolutely nothing to do with this argument (on your logic, what about the English team in the Scottish league, but that would be pedantic), this is about international football and the fact that the status of the home nations is at stake. Even the English would actually lose out, not that some would be too bothered because they still don't know what their flag is.
And I will say it again, football has no merit or right to be in the Olympic games, just like many other PROFESSIONAL sports. BTW I'm sure any Scottish or Northern Irish football fans would also be up in arms if one of their players had posed in this photo shoot.
This isn't just a Welsh issue.
Just saying incase anyone thought I was contradicting myself from another of my posts.
I'll support Team GB all the way even if no Scottish, Welsh or NI players turn out for the team. And even tho I hate the team with a passion, I wouldnt care if a celtic player posed for the shoot.
Go Team GB!!!
Joking aside, and I know i may have gone a wee bit too far with some of those jokes. let's just watch the games and let's see our boys (from all four countries) shine and they can be proud to wear a gold medal.
The word racist refers to slander of another race. Or for the lesser intelligent (you Taff) skin color. The word you are looking for would be Zena phobic. The fear or loathing of another nation's people. I didn't realize the weather had gotten hotter in Wales and now the entire population of Wales had evolved. I guess you learn something new every day. I'm sure Taff is learning something new all the time. Like how to tie his shoe laces and table manners.
The UK doesn't have to compete in every competition in next year's Olympics from what I can gather. That was something highlighted only last week when the UK formed a handball federation a few years ago and had to satisfy Olympic chiefs that they could field a competitive team, otherwise they wouldn't compete.
Athletics has always been competed as a Great Britain team in all international competitions, with the exception of the Commonwealth Games which is a different entity. There is a UK governing body in athletics, which makes the combined team possible. This does not apply to football, as there is no UK national governing body.
I only ever cheer Britain in the Olympics all other times I am an ENGLISHMAN through and through and want nothing more than complete independence for the lower nations such as yourself and Scotland and the northern Irish contingent !
St George's flag is my banner and I wear my George and the dragon tattoo with pride, but I put petty squabbles aside for the Olympics as it is a prestige tournament that should be retained as a traditional hotbed of severe competition GO TEAM GB !!
However the English leagues should be for English teams, the Scottish leagues for Scottish teams and the Welsh leagues for Welsh teams. Can't understand why this doesn't get sorted out once and for all.
Welsh people will be doing exactly the same next summer, even the BOA's decision to play some football matches in Cardiff tries to undermine the FAW's stance. Here's a little sweetner....... no thanks!
Bale is going to get what for next month, even if he decides to do a u-turn and says he WON'T play in the Olympics he will never be forgiven for this stunt. Hopefully the likes of Joe Allen and Aaron Ramsey will see the hostility that this has caused and have second thoughts.
I hope Scotland does get independence, which will open the door for Wales to follow soon after. The UK is dead, we just need to get the shackles off and go our own ways.
But I like the idea of every 4 years there being a GB team...bit like the Lions in rugby happening every 4 years.
so if you get your dream of an independent wales are you a fan of cardiff, swansea, wrexham, newport, merthyr town or colwyn bay, who can censored off back to the glorified pub league that is the welsh premier league?
a team gb will not lead to disbanding the home nations for one second - the main reason the other nations are against this is they realise how embarrassing it will be to have one or two of their players picked just to make up the numbers, whilst ten english players and gareth bale actually play - i guess a few years ago it would have been ryan giggs if he could be bothered to turn up
and going back to the actual point of this thread the kit is really smart
Idiot, enough said!
Christ we have a right typical uninformed Englishman here don't we?
No real footy fan cares about the Olympics - Micky mouse tournament.
As for the kit, why are they showing a Commemorative shirt? Why not the actual kit? Weird...
Of you look at team gb in a way
If the 4 were to split they would have better chances of qualifying for international tornaments and celtic and rangers will be in a better league
If great Britain were to exist as a team they would have a better chance of winning a tornament than England
but as a shirt itself i like it
www.maccasports.co.uk
so this is not the shirt they will play in. so what's the point of it.
when is the actual shirt coming out?
also will it be allowed to have 3 stripes on it?
When will these companies learn not to make shirts skin tight? So that the majority of football fans who aren't jacked can wear them without feeling self-concious or at least on the brink of ripping their shirts.
Go the Brits!!!!!!!
Since I am a major England fan, and I love football as a whole, I will definitely be buying a team GB shirt as I want to support the players in whatever competition they compete in. Sure the olympics may be amateur, but support the players who play, dont let petty politics get in the way of football.
As for the whole Sepp Blatter cronies situation, I do agree that they might pull some corrupt tactics if the rest of the FAs step on board with this idea, so just let the players make the decisions if they want to play. The current situation is the ideal one, just leave it alone.
Wales has NEVER been a part of England
Come to Wales and see how much the English get welcomed. Nobody here likes the English, you steal our water, our coal, our jobs and our holiday homes and live in them for 2 weeks a f*cking year.
THAT IS HOW MUCH WE HATE YOU!
The so-called ruling classes are playing us off each other and we go along with it like mugs. Stop fighting their battles for them and be a human. That goes for both sides.
A lot of English people are struggling to buy ONE house in England, let alone a second home elsewhere, including myself.
There are also a lot of English people who struggle to pay for their water & heating bills, and have also had their jobs taken from them.
How f*****g dare you attribute all those ills to a whole nation of people to suit your own prejudices. When you do that you include me, so you've made it personal.
You're a whimpy little, self-pitying, soulless, unintelligent joke of a person.
How sad - you Rangers lot are embarrassing, all your 'British' hype is the exact opposite of the Welsh comments on here - but just as bad if not worse. Yes your Scottish, yes your British - your also a football team. Celebrate being Scottish, British whatever you want - but you lot think your the bloody army or something. Your NOT Britian - your PART of it, you think you own red white and blue you daft bugg3rs!
And I am a HUGE Scottish football fan - not of the old firm mind but a fan non-the-less.
www.maccasports.co.uk
Controversy: I suggest that the Four Home FAs, FIFA, UEFA and CIO sign a "Football Team GB Memorandum" that would sound more or less (more "less" than "more, I'm not an English-speaking lawmaker
"The Football Home Nations and their national football teams are independent, and their independence must be respected and preserved by UEFA, FIFA and every governing body of football.
The Olympic football team representing the British Olympic Committee may play only in the Olympics-related events. Its appereance to the Games is subject to the qualification for the event of England, Scotland, Wales and/or Northern Ireland.
Other appearances of Team GB are subject to the unanimous approval of the FA, the SFA, the FAW and the IFA [that is, if they agree to play, say, a benefit match, they can]."
This is a draft, eh, try to get the spirit of it: "one, when needed, at Olympia (and, if all the FAs agree, for good causes), four for the aeons to come".
Once it's CARVED ON STONE that the status of the four Teams will NEVER-EVER-EVER be harmed by a Team GB, we all can sleep better at night.
Then again, it's my VHO. Don't hang me for that!
Kit: STUNNING. A remark: it would be perfect if every national symbol (e.g. a lion for England, a unicorn for Scotland, a dragon for Wales, a [don't know
FIFA would be taken to court and lose EVERY TIME if they tried to merge all 4 nations due to this Olympic team.
You just don't like the British thing - well tough, you ARE British. I am English and British and proud of both, I have Scottish blood (Mother being a Scot) and damn proud of that too
I haven't heard anyone crying about your runners, gymnasts, shot-putters, archers, cyclists or anything else performing under the British flag - you just quite simply can't stand the thought of Wales having one or two players in the squad.
Onto the shirt - why are all images blocked by his arm? Must be a proto-type, he's blocking the main image on the shirt.
It is well-documented about Blatter and his penchant for moving the goalposts (no pun intended), saying one thing about the home nations' status and on the next breath say something contradictory. However who's to say his successor (whoever that may be) gets elected into office because one of his mandates would be to assimilate the home nations into one, and in turn dissolve the IFAB and give FIFA the full power of the laws of the game? This possibility is a very real one, and this Team GB sets a dangerous precedent in the eyes of the Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish FA's. The English FA haven't voiced opposition as, in the effect of an assimilated UK-wide football governing body, they would be the de facto association, so they'd have nothing to lose, whilst reducing the other three nations to parish council style "local FA's". It would also solve their years-long "who to play on the left wing?" problem - how convenient.
I just hope this Olympics circus passes over and we all carry on as normal without any political meddling.
I see your point but it has to be asked - how would FIFA even given 'control' be allowed to select 3 nations and group them together just because politically we are 'also' Britain? What purpose would it solve? Aside from the Babbling Blatter - I cannot see anyone who would be aided by forcing England, Scotland and Wales to unite as Great Britain (and will people learn that Northern Ireland is part of the UK not part of Great Britain). Who's mandate would be selected rather than opposed by this idea? Ridding football of Scotland (arguably where the game was born) England (okay world cup winner once) but also home to the games greatest league and Wales - a proud sporting nation if nothing else of note football wise - would, in my eyes, not be a pitch to leave the FIFA election comities watering at the mouth.
It's simple - Blatter writes the agreement that the nations will not be merged into a contract - and for the period of that time all is okay. It's not as fragile as you lot make out. Scare-mongering has done all this - not real risk.
Moving swiftly on, one of the task forces set by Blatter to see through the reforms will concentrate on FIFA's statutes and will be chaired by Theo Zwanziger (president of the German FA and member of the FIFA executive committee). Now for me, he is the real threat, not just because he has openly criticised IFAB and the home nations' involvement in the rules of the game and believes it is wrong, but it has been rumoured that he doesn't agree with the home nations having a FIFA vice-presidency. And with Blatter retiring in 2015, Zwanziger has been mooted as a possible successor. He could very easily be that person who puts the assimilation of the home nations in his presidential manifesto, and, given that FIFA is run as a democracy and everyone has a vote.
Lest we forget, this idea for a UK football team to be mandatory for competing in the Olympic games was a FIFA decision. They did not state if this was a one-off or was for all future Olympiad. Combined with the opinions of some FIFA executive committee members, this isn't scaremongering we are hearing.
But is Zwanziger (or anyone else for that matter) not able to force through a unification for home nations anyway? If so - what difference does it make if we play in the Olympics? I actually don't know. But are these people really going to take our participation as move to proceed with such plans? I guess the point is this: If we don't play as GB in London - does it keep the wolf from the door? If not - what's the point being anti-GB for Olympics?
Have read all the comments above and decided to clear this issue up once and for all:
"You are" = "you're"
"Could of" should be "could have".
If you're going to use the English language to debate what should be good and proper for the Isles that use that language, maybe you should use it properly.
Thanks.
Wats the fking point about arguing abot wales scotland ect and acually comment on the kkit ffs
I think its an awful kit if truth be told. Watermarks are so 90's!
Wales hAv every wright to complain there r their own nation in rugby common wealth and so on so y do we have to be a (nation) in football. We have our own culture own ascent own language what more do u have 2 do 2 be independent its not just for the welsh its for the scots 2
Thank u we got a welshmen here were r our own nation^^^^
Good to see another Cymro on board.
Fight the power!!!!!
SAESNEG MYND ADREF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In no more than 3 decades the British Empire...or it´s remainings are history. More and more people within the GB are not feeling comfortable with being labelld british.
Referendum in Sctoland in....15-20 years and bye bye.
next will be Wales after that.
Face it, the UK/GB is a construction from ancient days and will not maintain. history changes
Imagine England w/ Bale, Ramsey, and Ferguson.
Killer!
Rugby is a good example with the lions however this is a totally different matter and there is no threat to the four nations independance(even a united ireland team).
I would certainly not want to do anything which threatens the future of n ireland, scotland, wales and england. Do you trust fifa and their dodgy dealings(englands world cup bid for example?? point proven)as they are dodgy as hell. They dont like the fact the 4 home nations have individual powers(even though ourselves and england started it all off internationally with the irish and welsh following later).
Football is very diferent to other sports i.e. athletics where the British team is and has always been an accepted team. I certainly wish all teh gb athletes good luck in the olympics but football is very different.
Also think that the tournament is pointless. Just an excuse to get the likes of Messi, Neymar, and other class players to play in England/GB/UK. But many of tthe world class teams e.g. Spain, Holland and Germany, probably won't compete anyway (or will just put their U21's) because of the EUROs.
Not all English are wealthy enough to afford second homes. We don't all swan around the place decked out in morning suits & top hats, planning how we will next exploit our poor, defenseless neighbours. The biggest mistake here is confusing Westminster with the rest of England, particularly working class England. We're as much frustrated with their rule as you are.
The way some, particularly Taff above, go about arguing their case is just provocative and will only lead to these heated discussions. I can handle pro-Celtic talk (independence, etc.), but when it becomes anti-English talk, we've got every right to answer back.
BTW Ramsey posed for the jersey too. Hater gonna HATE.
http://www.soccerbible.com/cfs-filesystemfile.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Blogs.Components.WeblogFiles/general.2011.November/Ramsey_2D00_Team_2D00_GB.jpg
How can the Welsh game be threatened? This is the ONLY chance ANY Welsh player will EVER have of competing in a major football tournament and your FA want to prevent it from happening? Unbelievable. These guys must be so proud to be Welsh!!!
This is a GREAT BRITAIN team. Not England. So players from ALL FOUR nations should be available for selection. How could it ever threaten the existence of Welsh football?
Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey are top quality players, but they're your only ones... give them a chance to perform on a bigger stage than the Welsh national side will ever have the opportunity to do!! Pathetic. Petty. Anti-English rubbish.
GREAT BRITAIN MATE. You're nothing with out... and neither are we to be honest!!!
As for the shirt... POINTLESS!! Why bother if this is not the shirt that is going to be worn by the players? Oh, and watch the Welsh boys moan when they run our wearing a WHITE AWAY shirt in the first game!!!!!!
Get over your petty, narrow-minded Welshness. Prats!!!
Racist tosser
If North and South Korea, who aren't on speaking teams (if you haven't found out by now), can join up for the Olympics as a unified Korea then you guys need to grow some balls and do the same. Buncha gnarly-teethed pussies.
Ya'll muthaf***ers are gonna be the same damn country for the rest of the sports are your Olympics. Would it hurt for ya'll to join up for some damn soccer games?
BTW, the good ol' U S of A are gonna win hella medals up in the Olympic games. #1 censoredes (as usual).
What do you know? You're American, go back to that glorified rounders game called "baseball"...........
1) Why didn't they let Umbro, producers of the England, Ireland, Northern-Ireland and Wales shirt, produce this GB kit as well?
2) Of course it's a collecters item, but selling a shirt which will never be worn tastes a bit like a commercial rip-off.
But overaal it's a nice idea and a great looking shirt!
"Porridge Wogs"
Wogs being racial epithet for Asian people? More people of Asian and African background in your precious England today than whites. You love that, don't you?
Its little wonder so many people show disdain for the English with people like you about. The word "scum" isn't good enough for you.
The English national team....... yes the most over-hyped team living on one past glory that they bang on about every 2 to 4 years. Never come close to winning anything since.
You really are a prick of the highest order