http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/olympics/2008/07/olympic_countdown_23.html en-gb 30 Mon 28 Dec 2009 21:20:41 GMT+1 A feed of user comments from the page found at http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/olympics/2008/07/olympic_countdown_23.html http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/olympics/2008/07/olympic_countdown_23.html?page=16#comment5 Speaking as someone that was born in England, went to primary school in Scotland and has a Welsh Mum I find the level of animosity between the countries that make up the UK to be rediculous at times.For the purposes of football and rugby, I am English with Scotland as a second team. In most matters I identify myself as British and would ideally like the chance to support a GB football team. A qualifying tournament under Olympic eligability rules between the nations might work, each nation competing separately would be taking the mick. Wed 16 Jul 2008 15:03:22 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/olympics/2008/07/olympic_countdown_23.html?page=13#comment4 It seems quite simple to me to resolve this issue.The precendent was set in 1992 with the Russian Federation.Simply have the four home countries playing under the Olympic banner.i.e. England, Scotland, Wale and Northern Ireland all play not as a combined Britain but each nation individually as Olympians.Of course there will only be 12 other spots for the other countries... but it seems odd that the host nation(s) cannot be present.FA Wed 16 Jul 2008 13:20:16 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/olympics/2008/07/olympic_countdown_23.html?page=10#comment3 MayorMcCheeseyFeet,It's to do with Fifa recognising England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as individual football associations.And Fifa president Sepp Blatter has said that a unified British team may harm each country's independent status within world football's governing body.ie - I understand the gist of it to be, if Britain enters a team for the Olympics, why can't it do so for World and European championships as well?And the fear of the individual nations is that that is exactly what may happen post 2012. Wed 16 Jul 2008 10:04:14 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/olympics/2008/07/olympic_countdown_23.html?page=6#comment2 Home Nations tournament re-instated?Yes please!Just make sure the goalposts at Wembley are more secure these days! :0)Just out of interest, can someone explain why a unified football team, for the purposes of the Olympics only, would cause a problem with FIFA? What has it to do with them?(Or am I being stupid?) Wed 16 Jul 2008 09:35:12 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/olympics/2008/07/olympic_countdown_23.html?page=3#comment1 I reckon the summer of 2011 would be ideal as there will be no World or European Cup to worry about.And as the majority of the players have to be under-23, it shouldn't affect the vast majority of Premier League 'stars' who are 'resting' ahead of the new season.A little round-robin tournament with maybe the top two playing again in the final with the venue to be decided when the finallists are known.For example, play it at Wembley if England are not involved, or Hampden if Scotland are not involved and so on.Would generate massive interest and, who knows, it could lead to the resurrection of the home nations tournament again. Wed 16 Jul 2008 09:17:22 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/olympics/2008/07/olympic_countdown_23.html?page=0#comment0 a mini-qualifying tornament would be grat but when would it be???? Wed 16 Jul 2008 08:43:22 GMT+1