British Olympic Team - Why Team GB and not Team UK?

Question

The United Kingdom is made up of Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales) plus Northern Ireland. So referring to the British Olympic Team as Team GB implicitly misses out participants from N. Ireland.

So why isn't the more accurate term of "Team UK" used instead?

Answer 1

UK is just two letters. Every abbreviation of a country in the Olympics has three letters, respectively. GBR (not GB) is, instead, used.

Answer 2

Well, Northern Irish athletes can choose to compete with Great Britain or the Republic of Ireland. But yeah, I don't know which one most athletes go with... I'm guessing Great Britain...so in conclusion is kind of degrading to Northern Irish athletes who choose to compete with Great Britain.

Answer 3

Cause N. Ireland is not in the olympics-GB stands for Great Britain.

Answer 4

Don't be silly Gary..........GB or UK...it's all the same. If we named it Team UK there would be someone asking why we didn't name it Team GB.

ps....it is Southern Ireland that is not in the UK and not in Gt. Britain.

Answer 5

Ukraine also UK.  

Answer 6

I think the full name of team GB is Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It is often just shortened to GB. Athletes from N.I can choose whether they want to compete for GB or Ireland, team Ireland have a boxer from Belfast (N.I), so he chose Ireland instead of his native UK.

Answer 7

Northern Irish athletes can compete for either GB or Ireland. So NI aren't implicitly missed out when they can choose which team to compete for.

also The Great Britain olympic team is Officially named Great Britian and Northern Ireland, it's Shortened to GB for ease

Answer 8

As I understand, in this special case NI could of competed either with GB or Ireland. They chose GB.

Quite why I don't know - it should be Team UK - end of story.

There is no country at all as GB and shows a flaw in the whole IOC.  

Answer 9

You answered your own question.

Great Britain, geographically, excludes Northern Ireland.

Olympic participation is not based on political entities.

  

Answer 10

the full name is United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, bit of a mouthful. whatever you call it someone will complain. Unless it's Team UKofGBandNI. lol