The Five Demands

La politica invade il ‘territorio’ sportivo.
Ha fatto scalpore la decisione di negare l’esibizione della propria bandiera all’Irish National Gymnastics Association in occasione di una competizione che si terrà Newry.
Il Consiglio ha infatti stabilito che la nazionale  irlandese  sarà rappresentata dall’inno nazionale irlandese, ma non potrà battere la bandiera irlandese.
Pat McGin, consigliere del Sinn Fein, ha definito questa decisione come un misero fallimento nel promuovere la tolleranza.
Non è dello stesso parere Denny Kennedy che accusa il Sinn Fein di utilizzare il consiglio per fini ‘ingenuamente politici’, e di trasformare la questione in un ‘tumulto’ pre-elettorale.
Pat McGin, ex sindaco, ha ricordato di aver partecipato a manifestazioni durante le quali la nazionale britannica aveva potuto fregiarsi sia della sua bandiera, che dell’inno.

Tricolour ban for Irish gymnasts (BBC Northern Ireland)
A council row has broken out over the flying of the Irish flag at a gymnastics competition in Newry.
The Irish National Gymnastics Association tournament this weekend can play the Irish national anthem, but not fly the Irish flag, the council said.
Sinn Fein’s Pat McGinn said councillors opposed to the move had “failed miserably” to promote tolerance.
UUP councillor Danny Kennedy said he did not want to see the council “naively used” by political elements.
Mr McGinn said, as a former mayor, he had attended events when the union flag was flown and the “British national anthem was played”.
“It’s sad that we have a national sporting championship and what we are doing is bringing it into a more complex row. We’ve turned it purely politically,” he said.
Mr McGinn accused opponents of the proposal of referring to “foreigners” during the debate.
Danny Kennedy denied the remarks were made, and said the issue was a “pre-election stampede” by Sinn Fein.
“The Irish national anthem is not the anthem of this part of the UK. In my view it won’t promote good relations,” he said.