Sport
Team GB will wear traditional Union Jack at Paris 2024 Olympics after outrage over twist on flag
Not unlike the backlash to England's new kit for Euros, plenty have been left very unhappy.
It has been confirmed that Team GB will wear the traditional Union Jack on their competition kit at the Paris 2024 Olympics, following criticism over redesigns of the flag on their latest clothing.
Now just a few months away from the Summer Games in France, Team GB unveiled some new licensed merchandise ahead of the tournament, including jackets, supporters flags and sports bottles which feature the United Kingdom’s official symbol in different shades besides the original blue, red and white.
While designers Thisaway said they simply wanted to try and “refresh” the colour palette and make the merch feel more “flexible and ownable”, many have labelled the tweaks an attempt to “deface” a national symbol, “perverse” as opposed to diverse, as well as “woke” for using inclusive pinks and purples.
In fact, the backlash has grown big enough that Team GB have now had to issue a statement assuring fans that athletes will be donning the normal Union Jack and colour scheme when competing at the Olympics in July.
While Team GB has said they received “positive feedback” from the public over the slight fashion-driven slant on the national symbol, they have now reiterated in a statement: “Rest assured the Union Flag will feature proudly on the team kit for Paris, as it always does.
“This image doesn’t replace the Union Flag, which we will wear with pride later this summer.”
Speaking to The Sun, the President of the Flag Institute, Malcolm Farrow, said of the situation: “People have every right to be upset with Team GB.
“They need to remember brave men fought for this flag and died while protecting it. Changing it is bordering on an insult to them. To do something like this in places like India, Greece or Turkey would have serious consequences.” Even former Olympian Fatima Whitbread took time to criticise the designs, saying she was “disgusted” with the changes.
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This comes just a week after many England fans across the country were calling for a boycott of Nike after a similar twist on the St George’s Cross flag located on the collar of their new kits for Euro 2024.
England’s latest kits have also been slammed for being too expensive – to the point, in fact, that one company have even offered to swap people a holiday in exchange for their overpriced kits.
Does Team GB and agencies like this getting playful with stuff like this matter to you or are you not bothered?
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Featured Images — Team GB
Sport
Everton manager Sean Dyche randomly pops up in the music video for Blossoms’ new single – and he’s great
Danny Jones
Did anyone else think they’d ever see Sean Dyche make his acting debut in the role of a Northern crime boss in a silly little music video for the Blossoms?
No, us neither but that’s the bizarre alternate reality we’re living in, apparently.
Blossoms are currently working on the fifth studio album and have already released their lead single entitled, ‘To Do List (After The Break-Up)’, but now they have a new song out as well, with a rather amusing music video to go along with it and somehow Sean Dyche has found himself the star.
The Stockport band teased the curious collaboration in April, giving us just short glimpses of the Everton manager and former Burnley boss with very little explanation – all we know is that it looked funny and it was.
Dyche is still busy trying to finish the Premier League campaign as strong as possible after successfully navigating the Toffees to safety even in spite of their points deductions this season, but it sounds like keeping them up has given him enough time to moonlight as an actor.
Sending the indie five-piece on a mission to collect something of value (yes, that’s all the info we have at this point as the story is still to be continued), it looks like the Kettering-born coach has a larger role to play in whatever this narrative turns out to be.
Playing what can only be described as some kind of semi-Manc mafia figure on the hunt for a very valuable piece of art, i.e. a big giant gorilla statue – one that many Stopfordians spotted being lugged around various parts of the borough –
They also shared a little bit of BTS footage from the shoot for the music video last week. Some lovely head-bobbing and unassuming surroundings here:
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As for the track itself, it’s a bit of stylistic change for the lads who’ve mastered their 80s-tinged indie formula over the past decade but it’s an absolute pop and is already stuck in our heads.
Revealing that they’ve collaborated with contemporary funk, disco and electronic icons Jungle on the track, it doesn’t take too long to hear the influences. Look forward to hearing it at Wythenshawe Park this summer.
You can watch the music video for ‘What Can I Say?’ and the ginger-goatee’d football manager extraordinaire in full character HERE.
He’s not the only footballing figure who’s made an entertainment crossover recently either.
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Featured Images — Blossoms (via YouTube)/Virgin EMI
Sport
Tributes paid to former Manchester City winger Ian Mellor, dead at 74
Danny Jones
Tributes are pouring following the death of former Manchester City star, Ian Mellor, who has sadly passed away at the age of 74.
Mellor, from Sale in Greater Manchester, played as a left winger for Man City as well as the likes of Norwich City, Brighton, Chester, Sheffield Wednesday and Bradford.
With his family and former club confirming the death on Wednesday, 1 May, social media has been awash with people paying their respects to the seasoned ex-pro who sadly died following a long battle with amyloidosis, a rare and incurable disease which affects organs such as the heart, brains and kidneys.
Replying to his son and ex-Liverpool turned Sky Sports broadcaster, Neil Mellor, the club paid their respects to the former Blue who made 50 appearances for the club.
Mellor began his career just down the road at Wythenshawe Amateurs before going on to represent City from 1970 to 1973.
A boyhood fan of the club, he scored 10 goals whilst wearing Sky Blue and also went on to win the Charity Shield with them back in 1972.
Eventually nicknamed ‘Spider’ for a good chunk of his career due to his long-legged stature, he remained attached to the beautiful game for years after his retirement and went on to become a committee member for the Former Players Association at City.
Joining the likes of all his former clubs, Chester City said: “Everyone at [the club] is saddened to hear of the passing of Ian Mellor. Sending all our love to you and your family, Neil Mellor.
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His son Neil’s goodbye has touched many online too, calling his dad his “hero” and his “everything”.
He also went on to thank locally-based end-of-life care organisation and charity, St Ann’s Hospice, who have facilities all over Greater Manchester and who helped care for Ian in his final days.
Our thoughts are with his friends and family as well as those whose lives he touched through football during this difficult time.
Rest in peace.
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Featured Images — Manchester City/Neil Mellor (via X)
