Golfer Rory McIlroy has claimed he doesn’t want to be committed to any flag as the furore surrounding his Olympic future grows.
The world number one has admitted in an interview with Irish state broadcaster RTE that he doesn’t want to be tied down to a flag.
In the documentary ‘Rory McIlroy – The Interview’, the County Down native admits that he doesn’t want to upset anyone in Ireland or Britain with his decision ahead of the Rio games in 2016.
The 23-year-old also claims in the TV programme, to be broadcast on Thursday night, that he is in an impossible position when it comes to choosing between Ireland or Britain for the next Olympics.
McIlroy said: “It’s a tough one. Being from Northern Ireland it brings its own difficulties whenever you have to choose who to play for or an allegiance.
“It’s just a difficult position to be in because you don’t want to let anyone down and you don’t want to upset anyone.”
McIlroy got a taste of the bitterness to come when he said in an interview in September that he was leaning toward representing Great Britain.
He was abused on Twitter before clarifying his position on the social network site.
Now he has told RTE that he doesn’t feel that he wants to be just defined by the tricolour or the Union Jack in his sports career.
McIlroy added: “I feel I’m more than just a flag. I play golf and I’m an international sports person and it doesn’t tie me to one flag or one allegiance.”
27 Comments
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.johnshiel | Dec 27, 2012, 04:26 PM EST
what would the fallout be like if Rory declined to compete because of the rancor connected with playing for either country?
Seanmor | Dec 27, 2012, 12:17 AM EST
When it comes to the Olympics, Great Britair competes under it's own name, which of course in Great Britain. But the 'independent' Irish state lists itself as Ireland at these games. McIlroy cannot be blamed if he chooses to play for Britain, because many government members of the Irish state regard Northerners, including staunch Nationalists, as British.
WoundedKnee | Dec 26, 2012, 02:48 PM EST
DARRAGH: "On the British Isle they have 4 Separate teams". Help me on this. What are the four teams? Three I can get--England, Wales, Scotland. But what's the fourth?
WoundedKnee | Dec 26, 2012, 02:44 PM EST
GEF: " Most Irish nationalists hold Irish Passports". That's true, by definition., But most Catholics in the Six Counties travel under British passports.
mamaginnty | Dec 26, 2012, 02:14 PM EST
Clever lad, playing both sides on the highest bid.
pilib04 | Dec 26, 2012, 01:07 PM EST
It is shameful that people are attacking Rory over this whole flag nonsense. Didn't we learn enough with the Belfast Flag riots a few weeks ago? Shame on all. Leave Rory alone.
GEF | Dec 26, 2012, 09:21 AM EST
Since the 1998 Good Friday Agreement some citizens of Northern Ireland can be both Irish and British and hold two passports. Most Irish nationalists hold Irish Passports and Most Unionists hold British passports, but a small minority have chosen to have two passport.
stephendoyle | Dec 26, 2012, 08:23 AM EST
Let him fly a E.U. flag then if he can't remember which island he was born on.If I ever forget, all I need to do is look at my long form. IRELAND is clearly spelled.....
darragh S | Dec 26, 2012, 03:02 AM EST
The Rugby Union team in Ireland is represented by players from all 4 Provinces (same for Cricket and Hockey). On the British Isle they have 4 Separate teams and this is the same for the Commonwealth games. For the Olympics NI is part of the UK but not Great Britain and competitors have a choice of team GB or Team Ireland. So as it stands he has to choose. There was a suggestion that the next games might have team UK. At the London games 13 NI residents played Ireland, 7 for team UK. Where will this leave the next lot who's choice is team Ireland or will they still have a choice? So its no Wonder he is confused given that he calls himself British, has MBE status and his family is harassed by the UDF one having been killed. Maybe this is why he sold his home and moved to Florida. My money is on Team USA.
darragh S | Dec 26, 2012, 03:01 AM EST
The Rugby Union team in Ireland is represented by players from all 4 Provinces (same for Cricket and Hockey). On the British Isle they have 4 Separate teams and this is the same for the Commonwealth games. For the Olympics NI is part of the UK but not Great Britain have a choice of team GB or Team Ireland. So as it stands he has to choose. There was a suggestion that the next games might have team UK. At the London games 13 NI residents played Ireland, 7 for team UK. Where will this leave the next lot who's choice is team Ireland or will they still have a choice? So its no Wonder he is confused given that he calls himself British, has MBE status and his family is harassed by the UDF one having been killed. Maybe this is why he sold his home and moved to Florida. My money is on Team USA.
darragh S | Dec 26, 2012, 02:39 AM EST
The Rugby Union team in Ireland is represented by players from all 4 Provinces (same for Cricket and Hockey). On the British Isle they have 3 Separate teams and this is the same for the Commonwealth games. In the Olympic team NI, as part of the UK but not Great Britain have a choice of team UK or Team Ireland. So as it stands he has to choose. There was a suggestion that the next games might have team GB. At the London games 13 NI residents played Ireland, 7 for team UK. So where would this leave the next lot who's choice is team Ireland? So its no Wonder he is confused given that he calls himself British, has MBE status and his family is harrassed by the UDF one having been killed. Maybe this is why he sold his home and moved to Florida. My money is on Team USA.
branagh | Dec 26, 2012, 01:34 AM EST
Honesty,this is become sickening so tiresome! Note,it was McIlroy who started this juvenile ride in the insulting way he claimed to feel more british than irish. If he wanted to make a claim on some subconscious impulse simply state-I'm british and that's how it is. Besides,come 2016 maybe neither Britain or Ireland will want him!
Happyhippo | Dec 25, 2012, 07:45 PM EST
Rory keeping his options open,likely to even opt for the flag with the biggest pay check,a case of the more you give me the more patriotic i am,maybe not such a bad idea when you concider that his earnings will most likly reach gazillions.
seanaci | Dec 25, 2012, 07:05 PM EST
Sport should be confined to competition between athletes and teams of athletes. The nation-state is a failing or almost failed concept. The great disparity in resources and populations between "countries" competing with one another makes a nonsense of international competition. For example, FIFA's champions league is pure sport. The world cup is for those who haven't noticed that we're in the 21st century. Good for Rory for being a person rather than a possession.
seanaci | Dec 25, 2012, 05:39 PM EST
The little bugger needs to make up his mind!
Nelsonbarry | Dec 25, 2012, 05:15 PM EST
If he can't pick a Flag. Stay home, who cares.
Nelsonbarry | Dec 25, 2012, 04:59 PM EST
He'll be american ere long like crazy Feherty - and mightily welcomed - down under was out of the question, upon learning of history of his queenie in invading Australia. The prisons then in Britain had become unbearably overcrowded, a situation worsened by the refusal of America to take any more convicts after the American War of Independence in 1783. The other and more urgent reason being to populate their colonies to outdo the French.
anglo-norman | Dec 25, 2012, 04:24 PM EST
AS is his right...
biggles008 | Dec 25, 2012, 02:26 PM EST
He has NO guts.
cillowen | Dec 25, 2012, 01:47 PM EST
why waste ink on weasely fella - he dunna know whrere he come from. A planted soul like his mashed potato charlie chaplin buddies be.
bunkerisland | Dec 25, 2012, 12:43 PM EST
Isn't he an Irishman living on the island of Ireland in an area under British rule?
oldboreen | Dec 25, 2012, 12:37 PM EST
With his wealth he can well affore to regard himself as 'stateless' He travels the world on a British passport however, so isn't he just playing games with the media?
torbreezy | Dec 25, 2012, 12:18 PM EST
Leave him alone: Should flag-waving define who Rory is? Should we not all be defined by who we ARE and how we PLAY? Leave Rory alone . . . .
NYCsheridan | Dec 25, 2012, 11:26 AM EST
Another pawn in the never-ending bullshit.
maryosullivan | Dec 25, 2012, 10:53 AM EST
Get over yourself , Rory. You are what you are, however, in a previous interview you made it clear you felt more comfortable being a Brit. What happened, didn't you measure up
solyeant | Dec 25, 2012, 09:42 AM EST
yes he is right and he shouldn't be faced just now with this ballbreaker but he will eventually have to face the terrible call and when he does it will be for the right reason Not a bunck of bollocks talked about loyalty and diligence to a flag its either there in his blood or its not and from the source he comes from the source either flows to the left or the right. Takes a long time for many of us to spot the current but the left seems to be winning ground and will eventually define his identity But in the meantime ask about five million other irish spread across the world and in particular 1 million Northerners spread across the globe and see the result Mcilroy will make his call and it will be an enhancement to that nation's crown but he must choose free from polemic and diatribe as would be the currency in page column now Coulighan when there is nothing else to talk about alas Try gun crime in NY or Shootings in Texas but get to grips with how others observe your intake of breath Should it continue as being pollutant or should there be control on your outpourings to fill print inches I suggest the house is out on this one Patrick. Air is perhaps more important to the human race than your contribution Adieu
Curitiba | Dec 25, 2012, 08:28 AM EST
Perhaps he could say he is Brirish or Irtish. Anyway he needn't worry. There is an Independent category in the Olympics for those that don't represent any state. Rory shouldn't be concerned about whether anyone will have reserved a seat for him at Rio; he will be provided with a fence to sit on instead.