Northern Ireland flag to be dropped from Commonwealth Games after sports chief brands it one-sided
A decision not to use the Ulster Banner flag at this summer’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow has been slammed by unionist politicians – after the head of the sporting body in Northern Ireland said it was not an “inclusive emblem”.
Conal Heatley said that the flag – used for decades to represent local athletes at the games – does not represent both communities and his organisation wants a flag that is “welcoming to everybody”.
The Team NI chief has also hit out at Stormont, claiming that the Executive Office has not given it guidance on what flag it should use.
The official flag of Northern Ireland is the Union Flag, with the Ulster Banner having no official status. However, it has been used to represent the province in various sports, most notably for international football.
Jim Allister has hit out at the decision by the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council – accusing the organisation of “politicking”. The TUV leader said that the organisation had no business in changing the flag, which is a matter for government.
However, while Mr Heatley has agreed that it is a matter for Stormont, he defended the decision to remove the flag in the absence of direction from local ministers.
The UUP says the decision is “deeply regrettable” – and that as matters relating to flags and anthems are long established by convention, “no change should have been made without clear guidance from the Northern Ireland Executive”.
Nationalist political parties do not support the use of the Ulster Banner for such sporting events – while all of the unionist parties do. It is unlikely that Sinn Fein would accept a new flag to represent Northern Ireland.
Mr Heatley made the comments in an interview on the BBC’s Nolan Show on Monday morning.
“The fact of the matter is that the official flag, the only official flag for Northern Ireland is the union flag. That doesn't work at Commonwealth Games, simply because that flag is also shared by other nations and territories. So it doesn't uniquely represent Northern Ireland, so unfortunately, it can't be used.
“So looking at a flag – we don't have one. There is no flag with official status. So we have asked Stormont on numerous occasions over the last number of years, ‘can you please tell us what flag to use?’ And… we haven't had a response”, he said.
Asked by presenter Stephen Watson why the organisation is changing the flag now, Mr Heatley said the Ulster banner holds cultural significance for “a large section of one side of community” – adding “I think we need to be honest about this and say that there are people on the other side of community who don't feel the same about that”.
“Not long before Christmas, there was the a lot of comment around boxing and creating that welcoming environment. That's what we've been trying to do, is to come up with something, hopefully approved by Stormont, that is welcoming to everybody in society in Northern Ireland. And I think… with all honesty, the Ulster banner hasn't done that”, he said.
Asked why not keep the Ulster Banner until there is guidance from Stormont, Mr Heatley said: “You know we need honesty if we're going to progress as a society, we need honesty. And if anybody believes that the Ulster banner is inclusive across all sections of the community – I would love to take them for a walk through certain parts of you, know Belfast or Cookstown or wherever in Northern Ireland.
“It does hold massive cultural significance, we recognize that – for a section of community. But it is not an inclusive emblem”.
Asked if there is demand from athletes for the flag to change, the Commonwealth Games chief said: “I’ve been in this job for 15 years, and this has been a regular thing. It comes up all the time.
“Athletes want to get on and do what they do, and we want to support athletes to get on and perform in that Commonwealth Games… come July. We're 192 days out. And what we want is our politicians to actually tell us what to do”, the sports chief said.
North Antrim MP Jim Allister rejected the sporting body’s arguments. He told the Nolan Show: “Who are they to say it shall not happen? They are not the government. They are no part of the government. They are funded by government. And yet they set themselves up to say this is not going to happen.
“The way this works, it's a matter for government to change the flag, if that is the desire. If government doesn't, then it's up to the Commonwealth Games Association to get on with it and to stop their politicking”.
Mr Heatley said his organisation was funded by the National Lottery.