Why is Ben Ainslie flying the union flag UPSIDE DOWN?

Question

At the olympics. He is representing Britain and flying the national flag (often called the union jack) upside down in the newspapers of the world is a great insult to our national sports image.

It is quite easy to get it right, The made in Japan sign is on the top

Answer 1

Nothing as bad as George Bush holding the American flag at the Swimming Pool, with the stars in the top right.

Chappers is right, rotating the flag 180 degrees is fine, but that's not the question Ben had flipped it on a horizontal axis.

Answer 2

Awwww get lost!!!!!!!!

Have you never been so excited you didn't know which way was up.  LOL

Answer 3

To those who say it is the same upside down you are very wrong.

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/...

Answer 4

It's a very sad fact that most Brits nowadays do not know that the Union Flag can be flown upside down, but I'm afraid to say that it's indicative of the "couldn't give a toss" attitude in the country nowadays - just like the fact that a lot of Brits cannot speak, or even write, in their mother tongue correctly!

Answer 5

Do you realise that when the union flag is flown upside down, it means you are in trouble !

Answer 6

I thought it was 'made in China'

But not many people realise that there is an up to our flag, we need better education about our countrys history..

Answer 7

hes probably so excited he didn't think to check it. i forgive him. can you?  

Answer 8

It is all to do with getting things right.

Any flag flown upside down indicates distress.

Any flag flown at half mast indicates respect for the dead.

The union flag becomes the "Union Jack" only when flown from the jack staff of a ship, otherwise it is known as the "Union Flag".

The flag in this case is the union flag, the canvas "Backbone" of the flag has a wooden toggle at the top, and a loop at the bottom, it will be noticed that the white bands are of different thicknesses, the correct way up is when the flag is flown with the thick white band nearest the flag pole, at the top..The Union Flag, when depicted as a "Picture" should always be shown with the left hand side being the flagpole side, broad white band to the upper left.

Answer 9

Ok get a picture off the internet of a union flag and rotate it by 180deg. ITS EXACTLY THE SAME. Its possible to hold it back to front but not upside down. Prove that wrong.

Answer 10

it looks the same which ever way you hang it up . anyway its not my flag i am Scottish

Answer 11

Maybe he was too excited and who cares it looks the same any ways. The stupid critics have to much time on thier hands and should be doing better things with there time.

Answer 12

I'm sure many people don't even realise that you can fly it upside down as I for one only found that out a year or so ago upon this very website.

But to be fair, I'm sure his mind is otherwise occupied, and in this instance we can cut him a bit of slack.

Answer 13

Flying the Union flag upside down is a recognised sign of distress.

Whoever fixed the flag to the stick got it wrong - I suspect Ben either didn't notice, or chose to display it anyway - anything is better than nothing.