TEAM GB

[alexandermclaren]

Can someone explain to the non sport minded of us in this world why has TEAM GB got GBR on their vests and the results on screen they are refered to as GBR with the union jack ,,, what does the R refer to cant even get an answer on the know it all web site GOOGLE

[les]

Can't answer your question but it's typical of media types today, they introduce an idea/word with no explanation and let the public get on with it. I was amused when the word 'brexit' was first thrust upon us, out of the blue. It's all suppose to be clever and tied up with the shallow world of advertising. -------maybe it stands for Remain!

[anthony2]

RIO maybe?

[alexandermclaren]

Can't answer your question but it's typical of media types today, they introduce an idea/word with no explanation and let the public get on with it. I was amused when the word 'brexit' was first thrust upon us, out of the blue. It's all suppose to be clever and tied up with the shallow world of advertising. -------maybe it stands for Remain!

[viewsonic1]

Great Britain rules? Showing my age, I'll get my coat.

[LouiseM]

The athletes all wear the internationally recognised acronym for their country when competing and GBR is the recognised acronym for Great Britain, and has been for years. 'Team GB' is just a brand name for the British Olympic Association (the equestrian team brand name is 'Team GBR').

[amgrave]

I think the poster is asking "what the R stands for".

[LouiseM]

Well he actually asked what the 'R' refers to, rather than what it stands for, which is why I pointed out that the 'GBR' is an acronym. No point trying to figure out what the 'R' refers to individually when it isn't supposed to be read on its own

[amgrave]

Opps, read that wrong then

[alexandermclaren]

Cheers louise for your reply
We all know about acronyms
They are formed from the first letter of a name or even the second letter,
My question was , why did the R letter have to be included
On our cars years ago , if travelling abroad we had to display a country of origin badge .ours was GB=Great
Britain
So we have TEAM GB representative of great Britain
GBR is now the norm for international registration of GREAT BRITAIN
What where or when? Did they have to add the R for
Wasn't GB sufficient
Should we therfore ditch our old GB car badges
And be buying GBR ones
Who knows nowadays in this crazy world gone political correctness mad and overboard for change
Or is it just us oldies
Many thanks louise
And the other posters for their view on this

[LouiseM]

My question was , why did the R letter have to be included

Because in 1972 the International Olympic Committee decided to introduce 3 letter codes for all competing countries. Nothing to do with political correctness, and no need to get rid of any GB car badges. It's just the way that the countries are identified when competing in the Olympics.

[alexandermclaren]

Aw I see now , gee whizz many thanks Louise .
You have a job on your hands with us old timers
Thanks for taking the time to explain it
Alex

[les]

Done for no apparent reason could have been GBS or GBT.

[LouiseM]

There is some logic to it Les, and ordinarily the first 3 letters of the country's name are used. Problem is that there are three olympic competing countries who begin with GRE (Greece, Grenada & Great Britain) and they can't all be referred to as GRE so Greece is GRE, Grenada is GRN and Great Britain is GBR. I guess somewhere along the line it was felt that GBR was as good an option as any other combination of letters - perhaps the GB Olympic committee at the time chose it? Anyway, I wouldn't get too bothered by it as there are plenty of other things going on in the world that are much more important than what letters athletes are wearing on their vests

[les]

-----and we can do as much about those other things as we can about vest initials. . -----nothing wrong with curiosity.

[alexandermclaren]

-----and we can do as much about those other things as we can about vest initials. . -----nothing wrong with curiosity.

[les]

At the risk of being too bothered on reflection maybe the R is more significant than any other letter as, although no official explanation can be expected, it is probably derived from GBRitain.

[irmscher]

I always thought the R was for Regina

[Blaketon]

It's all suppose to be clever and tied up with the shallow world of advertising. :D

I reckon a lot of advertising is based on a mix of that which smells (From supplier) and stupidity (Of buyer). For example, does Victoria Beckham really assist in the design of Range Rover Evoques and if so, is that a good thing and a reason to buy one?

[irmscher]

Proud to be British and a fantastic Olympic team .A great ride today by Nick Skelton and at 58 a gold medal after all these years.