The Council of Europe has today issued an emergency executive order to all member States concerning the use of national flags in association with the 2012 London Olympics.
Teams, contestants and sponsors must choose one of the three designs below, in lieu of the nationalistic devices displayed at previous Games. (The third option may be adapted according to the two- or three- letter designation of the member State concerned.) The new range of banners serve to remind onlookers of the unity and competitive strength of the European Union.
Spectators may on no account display flags, emblems or symbols of any EU member State, inside the grounds or buildings of official Olympic venues, or within 100 metres of such locations.
The UK is instructed to enforce the order with effect no later than 23:59 on Thursday 26th July 2012.
Financial losses on the recall of outdated items, if strictly necessary to comply with this executive order, may be reimbursed by EU central funds (details to be advised in due course).
Ha ha ha, I almost believed this nonsense!
Vorsprung durch Euro-bullshit
Oh God. How horribly believable.
Good joke!
(It’s a joke right?)
I hope so.
Excellent jape, but a tad late to be believable. Two months or so ago and you could have just swung it.
But, and just for the sake of argument, I could not think of a better recruiting sergeant for all things eurosceptic – including a fanatical determination on the part of athletes to display their own national symbols at any cost. So, bring it on !
Don’t give them ideas.
When this appears for real next year, we’ll all know who to blame.
Hope it is a joke.
Does the EU have copyright or are they infringing? Could be fun it they tried.
Like others say, don’t go giving them ideas.
ps re para 3, should now read “…EU supplicant State…”
My city council HQ flies the Union Flag alongside those of a few random European States but I am happy to report that the EU flag which is also flown is by far the most tatty and threadbare.
As I’ve said before, everywhere you see the “olympic” symbol replace it with THIS ONE
Or better still, overlay the second on the first!