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The British Olympic Association is facing a backlash after putting a range of 'Union Jack' flags on sale in different shades of color as an additional option to the traditional red, white and blue flags.
In a change from the bold colors more associated with the British Olympic team, designers introduced options with squiggles and dots across the colors that included shades of pink and purple in a desire to “push the signature red, white and blue tones as far as they can go.” As much as we can.”
The flags are on sale to fans in the official Team GB store for £12.99 in the build-up to this summer's tournament. Olympic Games in Paris.
Peter Shilton, the former goalkeeper who holds a record number of appearances for England, condemned the move, saying: “Nothing is sacred.”
It comes after the backlash The flag of the St. George's Cross has been changed on the back of the collar of the England football shirt, although Team GB insist the Union Jack will appear “with pride” on the team's home kit that will be released in the coming weeks.
They also said they had received “very positive public feedback” about the flags.
A club spokesman said: “Rest assured, the Union Jack will be proudly displayed on the team's kit in Paris, as always.” “This image does not replace the Union Jack, which we will proudly wear later this summer.”
The new Olympic design was described as a “federal joke” in a front in The Sun newspaper on Tuesday. “I am against any change in our national flag,” Shelton told the newspaper.
“It seems that nothing is sacred these days in the UK. Our national flag has been symbolic for many years and should never be changed.”
Malcolm Farrow, head of the Institute of Science, also criticized. “People have every right to be upset with Team GB,” Farrow told The Sun. “They should remember that brave men fought for this flag and died protecting it. Changing it is an insult to them.”
The different colors also appear on the bunting for sale to fans, as well as water bottles and towels. Traditional red, white and blue merchandise is also available for fans, including flags and towels.
The flag change comes after the British Olympic Association appointed Bath-based design firm Thisaway to target a younger audience by increasing interest in athletics outside the Olympic Games.
The designers were quoted as saying they had updated the colors in a “flexible and collectible” way, arguing that there were still variations of red, white and blue.
“Instead of trying to look beyond traditional colours, we decided to embrace them and push red, white and blue as far as possible,” they said.
Red was taken out of Team GB's London 2012 kit designs before being brought back for the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
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