BBC issues apology over omission of Northern Ireland flag from Commonwealth Games coverage

The BBC has issued an apology for not displaying the Northern Ireland flag during the corporation’s coverage of the Commonwealth Games.
By Mark Rainey
Published 31st Jul 2022, 12:41 BST
Updated 1st Aug 2022, 13:25 BST
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

The omission – during a television report on Team Northern Ireland winning its first medal in Birmingham – provoked a number of complaints on social media.

In the report on Friday evening, the name of the country was displayed without the flag, unlike the reports on the teams from England, Scotland and Wales just seconds earlier.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Known as the Ulster Banner, it is the official flag of the Northern Ireland team for the Commonwealth Games, and also for international football matches.

The BBC clip reporting Northern Ireland's first medal of the Commonwealth GamesThe BBC clip reporting Northern Ireland's first medal of the Commonwealth Games
The BBC clip reporting Northern Ireland's first medal of the Commonwealth Games

One of the first to highlight the discrepancy was NI-born former Labour MP Baroness Kate Hoey.

She tweeted: “What is @BBCNews trying to do. At the Platinum concert at Buckingham Palace they put up the Irish flag for Northern Ireland and now they have no flag. Maybe they shouldn’t get the licence fee from residents in NI if they think we don’t exist!”

A BBC spokesperson told the News Letter: “We will be using the flag used by the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games team and apologise for its omission on this occasion.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Last month, the BBC apologised after a flag error midway through the BBC1 broadcast of the open-air Queen’s jubilee celebrations outside Buckingham Palace.

Flag bearers from Team Northern Ireland leads their team out during the opening ceremony of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games on July 28, 2022. Photo: David Ramos/Getty ImagesFlag bearers from Team Northern Ireland leads their team out during the opening ceremony of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games on July 28, 2022. Photo: David Ramos/Getty Images
Flag bearers from Team Northern Ireland leads their team out during the opening ceremony of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games on July 28, 2022. Photo: David Ramos/Getty Images

While a performer called Doc Brown was delivering a rap about the UK, the giant screen behind him showed an English flag, Scottish saltire, the red Welsh dragon... and an Irish tricolour.

The following afternoon the BBC said: “The incorrect flag appeared in a brief montage during Doc Brown’s appearance last night. We apologise for the error and the sequence will be edited on iPlayer.”

READ: ‘Knock on knuckles’ for BBC will prevent omission of NI flag - Kate Hoey

Related topics:Northern IrelandBBCBirminghamEngland