Dec
28
2008
Precedent for Scottish Olympic football team revealed by SNP
Posted by: richard in London Olympic NewsThe Scottish National Party (SNP) has revealed research showing the London Olympics set a precedent for all four home nation football teams to take part in the Olympic Games.
SNP Olympics spokesman Pete Wishart MP called for the precedent, set during preparations for the London 1908 games when football became an official Olympic sport to be revisited and revived for 2012 to allow all home nation teams to participate.
The research shows Scotland was invited to take part in the 1908 games, along with Wales and Ireland. Special clauses in the games rules continued into 1912 to allow countries to submit four teams - specifically to allow Scotland, Wales, Ireland and England to all enter football teams.
The 1912 rules state "Each National Football Association belonging to a nation recognized as such by the International Olympic Committee and affiliated to the International Football Federation (Federation Internationale de Football Association) is entitled to send four teams."
The research also shows a team competing as "GB - Scotland" won bronze in the 1908 Olympic hockey tournament and Scotland came fourth in the cycling in 1912.
Pete Wishart MP said;
"In 1908 the unique position of the home nations was recognised by the London Olympics and all four countries were invited to send a football team.
"That position should be recognised in 2012 with a revival of the practice for the London Games.
"If we are looking for a solution for London 2012, then let it be this one, and let's see the Scottish, Welsh, Northern Irish and English teams playing football with the rest of the world at London 2012.
"In 1908 the SFA could not afford to send a team! If the London Olympics make the offer for 2012 I think we can safely say Scotland would be there.
"Scotland has competed as a separate team in hockey and in cycling - winning a medal at hockey in 1908. And our track record in cycling at the Olympics goes back to 1912 with the Scottish team coming fourth in Stockholm.
"Instead of trying to forge a GB football team that simply does not exist the London Olympics offers an opportunity to revive previous practice at a London Games, to preserve and promote Scotland's national team and to allow all four home nation teams to compete."
Football - the London precedent
To resolve the current impasse over representation for Scotland or otherwise in the London 2012 games all four home nations should be allowed to participate in the games.
The precedent of London 1908 in which all four home nations were invited should be revisited and revived to allow all four home nations to participate in the London 2012 games.
The 1912 rules state "Each National Football Association belonging to a nation recognized as such by the International Olympic Committee and affiliated to the International Football Federation (Federation Internationale de Football Association) is entitled to send four teams."
Scots Olympians
Scotland has never been short of Olympians and Olympic medal winners. From Chris Hoy in modern times through Launceston Elliot (the first Scottish gold medal winner) there has been participation by Scots in the Olympics.
What is little known, and almost concealed by the British Olympic Association and the IOC is that on a few occasions athletes have competed for 'Scotland' at the Olympics. This is Scotland's secret Olympic history.
2. In 1908 London Games Scotland competed in the Hockey tournament as one of four GB Teams winning a bronze medal for Scotland - the teams were Great Britain, Ireland, Great Britain - SC (Scotland) and Great Britain - WA (wales)
3. Stockholm Games 1912 Scotland competed alongside England and Ireland in the Road Cycling - coming fourth in the team event.
Source
www.snp.org
SNP Olympics spokesman Pete Wishart MP called for the precedent, set during preparations for the London 1908 games when football became an official Olympic sport to be revisited and revived for 2012 to allow all home nation teams to participate.
The research shows Scotland was invited to take part in the 1908 games, along with Wales and Ireland. Special clauses in the games rules continued into 1912 to allow countries to submit four teams - specifically to allow Scotland, Wales, Ireland and England to all enter football teams.
The 1912 rules state "Each National Football Association belonging to a nation recognized as such by the International Olympic Committee and affiliated to the International Football Federation (Federation Internationale de Football Association) is entitled to send four teams."
The research also shows a team competing as "GB - Scotland" won bronze in the 1908 Olympic hockey tournament and Scotland came fourth in the cycling in 1912.
Pete Wishart MP said;
"In 1908 the unique position of the home nations was recognised by the London Olympics and all four countries were invited to send a football team.
"That position should be recognised in 2012 with a revival of the practice for the London Games.
"If we are looking for a solution for London 2012, then let it be this one, and let's see the Scottish, Welsh, Northern Irish and English teams playing football with the rest of the world at London 2012.
"In 1908 the SFA could not afford to send a team! If the London Olympics make the offer for 2012 I think we can safely say Scotland would be there.
"Scotland has competed as a separate team in hockey and in cycling - winning a medal at hockey in 1908. And our track record in cycling at the Olympics goes back to 1912 with the Scottish team coming fourth in Stockholm.
"Instead of trying to forge a GB football team that simply does not exist the London Olympics offers an opportunity to revive previous practice at a London Games, to preserve and promote Scotland's national team and to allow all four home nation teams to compete."
Football - the London precedent
To resolve the current impasse over representation for Scotland or otherwise in the London 2012 games all four home nations should be allowed to participate in the games.
The precedent of London 1908 in which all four home nations were invited should be revisited and revived to allow all four home nations to participate in the London 2012 games.
- The first official Olympic Football Tournament took place at the London games of 1908.
- On the 3rd of August 1907 the Scotsman reported on a meeting of the English FA at which "The International Selection Committee [of the English FA] recommended, with reference to the Olympic games in London 1908, that the [English] Football Association should enter an amateur international team; that Scotland, Wales and Ireland should be invited to do the same;
- At the 1907 August meeting of the FA's International Selection Committee it is minuted that the Football Association of Wales has declined the invitation to participate in the games. At the 1907 October meeting of the ISA it is minuted that both the Welsh and the Irish FAs had declined the invite. But there is no record of Scotland's response.
- At the meeting of the Scottish Football Association of 13th August 1907 it is minuted that the English FA has invited the SFA to send a team to compete at the games and to participate as such in the British Olympic Council. The meeting decided to ask the FA of the financial implications of participation.
- On the 10th of September 1907 it is minuted that the FA had replied stating that Scotland would bear its own expenses for the contest. The SFA decide to decline the invitation to compete. The issue is raised again on the 17th of December 1907 and the decision not to enter the Olympic football competition is upheld.
The 1912 rules state "Each National Football Association belonging to a nation recognized as such by the International Olympic Committee and affiliated to the International Football Federation (Federation Internationale de Football Association) is entitled to send four teams."
Scots Olympians
Scotland has never been short of Olympians and Olympic medal winners. From Chris Hoy in modern times through Launceston Elliot (the first Scottish gold medal winner) there has been participation by Scots in the Olympics.
What is little known, and almost concealed by the British Olympic Association and the IOC is that on a few occasions athletes have competed for 'Scotland' at the Olympics. This is Scotland's secret Olympic history.
2. In 1908 London Games Scotland competed in the Hockey tournament as one of four GB Teams winning a bronze medal for Scotland - the teams were Great Britain, Ireland, Great Britain - SC (Scotland) and Great Britain - WA (wales)
3. Stockholm Games 1912 Scotland competed alongside England and Ireland in the Road Cycling - coming fourth in the team event.
Source
www.snp.org
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