NI Commonwealth Games flag mustn’t change

There ought to be no change to the flag representing Northern Ireland on the Commonwealth Games this 12 months or in future years, the Stormont minister answerable for sport has stated.

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has written a two-page letter criticising plans to exchange the prevailing flag, often called the Ulster Banner, at this summer time’s video games in Glasgow.

Commonwealth Games NI introduced on Monday that it might use a corporate logo rather than the Ulster Banner until the Stormont Executive got here up with an alternate flag.

Lyons has written to the organisation telling it that the prevailing flag ought to be flown.

“To remove or replace this flag now would not resolve division, it would create it,” he wrote.

“The Ulster Banner should be used as the flag for Northern Ireland athletes at the Commonwealth Games, including the upcoming Glasgow 2026 event and all future competitions.”

It shouldn’t be clear what energy, if any, the minister has to cease the change in flag coverage.

Also talking on the Nolan Show, the minister stated the main focus “should actually be on sport, not on flags, especially when there isn’t a consensus on what a new flag would look like”.

Lyons stated he has “had some very interesting and in-depth conversations” with Northern Ireland’s athletes and across the matter of the Ulster Banner, he claims the athletes “haven’t raised those issues”.

“It’s not simply the case that the removal of this will sort out problems for everybody and everybody will be content. As this has been the position for so long, I think it would be wrong to change it,” Lyons added.

“I would like to see us focus on the sport and the issues that do actually matter, because many athletes from all sorts of communities have represented Northern Ireland and haven’t made an issue of the flag.”

First Minister Michelle O’Neill, vice-president of Sinn Féin, publicly backed the change describing it as “a fine way forward”.

Unionist events have opposed the transfer, together with the Democratic Unionist Party which Lyons represents.

In the letter, the minister described his remarks as “guidance”.

“You will be aware that there is limited prospect for the Northern Ireland Assembly to agree on a replacement flag, given many don’t even recognise Northern Ireland in and of itself,” he stated.

“This emphasises the obvious lack of cross-community consensus required for such a change.”

The letter was addressed to Conal Heatley, the chief government of Commonwealth Games NI.

He has not responded but.

Mr Heatley has stated a extra “inclusive” flag is required for Northern Ireland.

On Monday, he informed BBC Radio Ulster’s Nolan Show: “It’s recognised that the Ulster Banner holds cultural significance for a large section of one side of community in Northern Ireland … there are people on the other side of community who don’t feel the same about that.”

The Ulster Banner was the flag of the devolved Northern Ireland Government from 1953 till it was formally abolished in 1973.

At the Olympics, athletes from Northern Ireland can select to compete for Team Great Britain (GB) – which makes use of the Union Flag – or Team Ireland, which makes use of the Irish tricolour.

In the Commonwealth Games, the Ulster Banner has been used because the flag representing Northern Ireland.

Unlike the Olympics, the 4 components of the UK compete individually on the Commonwealth Games, which means none is represented by the Union Flag.

The Commonwealth Games will take place in Glasgow from 23 July to 2 August.

There will probably be 10 sports activities happening together with athletics, boxing, swimming and bowls.