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New Team GB flag causes outrage with ‘diverse’ pink and purple redesign of Union Jack
Published 11:39 2 Apr 2024 BST
Updated 12:16 2 Apr 2024 BST
Homesport
More flags for people to waste their day getting angry at
A week after people lost their minds over England's new home shirt changing the colour of the St George's flag, Team GB have followed suit, angering a lot of people who have too much spare time on their hands.
Designers for the Team GB have changed the Union Jack from its traditional colours to a pink and purple look ahead of this summer's Paris Olympics.
The designers, from the Bath-based agency Thisaway, said they needed to find a way to “refresh” the colour palette as they aim to appeal to a “new generation of sports fans".
But there has already been backlash from several names including Peter Shilton who, just like he was with the new England shirt, has been left incensed by the decision.
He told The Sun: "I’m totally against any change to our national flag.
"It feels that nothing is held sacred these days in the UK. Our national flag has been symbolic for many years and should never be changed."
Malcolm Farrow, president of the Flag Institute said the redesign had ‘defaced’ the emblem.
He said: “I don’t approve of our national symbol of unity being defaced.
“People have every right to be upset with Team GB. They need to remember brave men fought for this flag and died while protecting it. Changing it is bordering on an insult to them.
“To do something like this in places like India, Greece or Turkey would have serious consequences.
“Designs to commemorate special events like previous Olympics have put an approved badge in the centre and kept the flag the same. This is just a marketing gimmick.”
Julia Hartley-Brewer said on Talk TV that "whoever designed this should be taken out and shot".
Team GB on the other hand said that have received "positive feedback" from the public over the design change before adding: "Rest assured the Union Flag will feature proudly on the team kit for Paris, as it always does. This image doesn’t replace the Union Flag, which we will wear with pride later this summer."
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