I don't usually take much interest in football, especially during the Olympics, but when I read on Twitter that none of the Welsh players had sung God Save the Queen at the beginning Great Britain's first male football match I suddenly wanted to tune in (and have even watched the beginning over again).
Welsh nationalism has always been somewhat of a taboo subject, especially during prime time on the BBC, but here it was being discussed at half time of an Olympic match by Gary Lineker and Robbie Savage. How times have changed? Or have they?
Gary Lineker's bemusement over why the Welsh players didn't want to take part in singing their imperial national anthem brought the viewer's attention back to the BBC's lack of regard and knowledge towards the Nations and Regions of Great Britain. But what difference does it make, as Lineker said: "it is after all a Great British team?"
Yes, it is, but the anthem is also the English one and a symbol of the English stronghold over British culture. These 'home' Olympics as they are described on the BBC, don't mean any more to me than had Paris won the bid. Do these comments showcase more of the BBC's culture, which is as London-centric as the games themselves or are they the personal feelings of one rogue commentator? Is it a lack of education or lack of interest that causes this ignorance of cultures residing over the border or the Irish Sea to England? Or is it our fault for not pushing our nationalism within Great Britain in order to showcase real British culture (that is the culture of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales)?
But of course the massive irony of these games are if they manage to inspire a generation, as their slogan hopes it will, is that the opportunities and facilities that allow young people to take part in sport will be mainly located in a different country to us here in Wales as only 0.1% of the budget for the Olympics has been spent in Wales and the cuts caused by the Olympic budget has taken many facilities away from communities across Great Britain.
Would it leave a better legacy to celebrate the nations and regions of Great Britain and allow the Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish and English flags to be flown across the games as a symbol of British multi-nationalism? Have the organisers missed a trick and an opportunity to showcase real British culture? That is the culture of all the nations and regions of Britain not just English culture dressed up in a Union Jack. This might have made more people feel a part of the games and wouldn't have caused an awkward half time discussion surrounding nationalism and the anthems of Great Britain by commentators who frankly don't understand the strength of feeling!