OLYMPIC GAMES 2016 - RIO DE JANEIRO

[MyHeartIsYours]

Would just like to add to this point...UEFA confirmed that for a GB football team to be at the Olympics, all 4 federations would have to agree, and 3 of the 4 have said that there are no circumstances under which they would agree. A women's team is not entirely impossible (but still unlikely), but a men's team absolutely will not happen.

No.

England can form the Great Britain team all by itself, none of the other three can stop it. Same applies if one of the other three wanted to enter the Olympics. This year, England changed its mind about creating a GB team by itself as they were last-minute in supporting the idea and they wanted to respect the other three nations, but if it had wanted to it could have gone ahead with it.

Given the FA changed its policy last year from non-interest in the Olympics to considering it "vital experience" for young English players, I imagine we will see a GB team once again in either Tokyo or 2024.

Olympic football seriously needs to be revised and supported by the proper football entities of power. Until then it will always be a very triviliazed sport within the context of the Games themselves as well as by football fans worldwide - which I suppose only follow the tournament if their country is in or if they really are into football that much (this being my case - yet I have to say, was mostly dull to watch some of the games other than those of my own country. Who cares for the Bender twins, 10 players playing for Neymar, Fiji putting up humiliation shows ever 2 nights, etc.)

Totally agree, I cannot see why Olympic football shouldn't just be ordinary-rules football (same with rugby - although I actually think rugby sevens was better quality than Olympic football).

 

[MyHeartIsYours]

Very pleasing summer of sports for Great Britain - second in the Olympics, second in the Paralympics

Today we just surpassed our 2012 Paralympic medal haul! Not watched the Paralympics, but some of our Paralympians have done us so proud... Jonnie Peacock, Hannah Cockroft, Sarah Storey, Ellie Simmonds!

 

[hugh]

I've been watching some of the Paralympics, truly inspiring hearing some of the stories from the Paralympians. Kadeena Cox winning Gold in cycling AND athletics is my highlight so far. Paralympics GB have won 47 golds and 101 medals so far, incredible performance from the team.