Updated, July 30*
YOU MAY HAVE noticed in this evening’s Opening Ceremony at the 2012 Olympic Games that there are four athletes participating in this year’s games without a country.
In the ceremony tonight they walked in behind the Olympic flag itself, and – on the off-chance that they win – will have the Olympic flag, and the Olympic anthem, displayed and played.
So how’d that come about? How, in a competition of 204 nations, are there athletes without a country?
Let us explain.
Three of the four athletes would, in previous years, have represented the Netherlands Antilles – a country you might have come across because of its prowess in sprinting.
The Netherlands Antilles only ever won one medal, a silver in sailing in 1988 – but it should have been two. Churandy Martina came second to Usain Bolt in that 200m final in 2008 but the Americans had him disqualified for stepping on the boundary of his lane.
Anyway, the Netherlands Antilles are no more – in 2010 it was dissolved into two smaller countries, Curaçao and Sint Maarten, and a collection of smaller territories. The national Olympic committee tried to hang around – asking to at least remain in place until the end of the 2012 games, but no dice: the IOC kicked it out in 2011.
However, any athletes who reached the qualifying standards after this point – of where there were three (Liemarvin Bonevacia in the men’s 400m, Reginald de Windt in men’s judo, and Philipine van Aanholt in women’s sailing) – were permitted to participate, though as independent athletes competing under the IOC flag and anthem.
The fourth independent participant is Guor Marial, who is from the world’s youngest country of South Sudan. He’s 28, but hasn’t been in Sudan since 1992 when he fled the Sudanese civil war as an eight-year-old and took refuge in the United States.
He’s fast enough to qualify for the marathon – but he’s not entitled to American citizenship, meaning can’t represent the US, and would therefore have to represent Sudan. Naturally he obviously wasn’t keen to do so, having fled from the country two decades previously.
This presented some problems for the IOC – which decided, last Friday, to do the right thing. Marial will run in the men’s marathon as a stateless athlete, a refugee participating under the international flag of the Olympic games.
And really, isn’t that what it’s all about?
* Update: This piece originally – and incorrectly – stated that the three athletes from the former Netherlands Antilles had qualified for the games prior to the dissolution of that country. In fact, the three qualified after Curaçao became an independent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. We are happy to correct this error.
The Roy Keane.
Someone who hasn’t grasped the idea that 5 aside football is normally just for a bit of craic with mates midweek and there are no medals handed out at the end but plays and shouts like it’s the champions league final and is still fuming and talking about it 3 days later.
The Gaelic Footballer.
Doesn’t get the idea of a one-two, thinks short passing is a waste of time and likes belting the ball as hard as he can up the other end of the pitch. Never lets you out of the corner; in fact runs full belt at you and tries to kill you. Loves to drop the shoulder, especially when challenging for the ball near the side wall. Short shorts, big arse, hugely enthusiastic, often whoops, but never gets asked back again.
Classic
Also will never pass the ball backwards.
The better brother of a guy who made it professionaly. The only reason this guy didn’t was because of the drink. ‘Could have played with Celtic’. Slaughters you for 10 minutes then has a coronary for 50 minutes.
The Pro….
Struts onto the turf with the newest gear out, under armour and hairband, first touch of a donkey but counts every goal scored week in week out (I’ve 30 goals in astro this season) and to top it off asks around after the game does anybody know of a good physio cuz he’s feeling a bit tight in the groin….
Eh, what’s up with the dates on people’s comments – they’re all over the shop!?
The sub…
Usually one of the lads sons who come along to get him outta the house so the mother can catch up on Corrie. He’s probably around 12-14 years old. He’ll go in goals so “no hard shots lads, sure he’s only a chap!’ Which is a distinct advantage. He’ll turn out to be amazing and no matter how hard you hit it, he’ll dive full length, collecting the ball in mid flight, a few somersaults and rolls and he’s off up the pitch, nutmegging and steps overs to bate tha band before sticking it in the top corner. As he walks back up the pitch, he’s given a little reminder of what age group of lads he’s actually playing with and someone decides to ‘soften his cough’ by ‘puttin a pup in him’ which ultimately results in a screaming kid rolling around all ‘ronaldo-esque’ with a shoving match between his dad and the offending individual. But all is settled with a few pints in the local with the young lad sippin a lemonade and chompin on a packet o’ Tatyo texting his mates with indecipherable gobbledegook about the dinosaurs he’s destroyed earlier….!
The john terry… He’s around shagging your missus while your not at home
The peter bonetti…..The keeper who is like a cat in 5 a side goals… But gets caught out on the big pitch!
The Heart – possesses all the drive, will and spirit a manager could ever ask of a player. Shows up every week and runs himself into the ground but ultimately has two left shins
Also known as the Zinedine Kilbane. Which would make it 2 right shins.
The Deer
Happy out chasing fellas and the ball. Gets caught in the headlights upon receiving said ball
The Hub
This is the guy who believes that the only good pass is a pass to him – generally loud and persistent.
The had trials ……
The muppet who was been chased by utd and Liverpool as a kid but wanted to do his leaving first! Turns out to be crap and then blames pitch,ball,lighting,his team,his footwear,drink from last night,injury……..
He wouldve made it if it wasnt for the drink…….
Forgot the dreaded “toy boy”. Shows up in the full Real Madrid kit with sparkling new green Astro boots wearing a head bank and gold cross around his neck. Cries off injured after 5 mins as everyone realises he’s awful.
For whatever reason somebody has pulled out due to “work”, always the same person, and the only replacement is another players son or nephew. The next 60 minutes involve getting nutmegged repeatedly and chasing his shadow.
The Rainman – really sweaty guy, with wet marks on chest, armpits, groin after 20secs of play. Spray of water in his wake and if you make any contact with, you may actually drown. Drinks out of everyone’s bottles and is a consistent back washer!! In a nutshell, wet!!
Nothing else happened except my goal… You’ve hammered him 17 3 but he’s scored a good goal… Maybe the best goal of the game but he’s otherwise been abysmal…. He ruffles your keepers head as you leave and tells him… Ha you won’t forget that one in a hurry…. You meet him in a boozer five nights later and he makes you lose the will to live jabbering on about it
“he takes a first touch that’s heavier than a black hole” – you my friend need to get a script writing role for Jim Beglin! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKw3EO3xpQc (1.22, in the best video ever produced by RTE)
The sweaty guy. Starts pumpin after 5 mins. Or the football cogs guy. Catches ure ankle with a stud and just says ‘oh sorry, you alrite ?’ As he jogs on.
The Heather Mills. Can only pass/shoot with one foot which makes him as easy to read, can also be called the Roald Dahl.