One of the most common criticisms of the EU is that there is no European ‘demos’. There is no common European identity upon which to base a common European politics. This isn’t surprising: despite the increasing dominance of English as a lingua franca, there is no common language, and national democracies have had centuries to build up a sense of identity.
In the 19th Century, Europe’s budding nationalists focused on vernacular literature, art, and culture to help forge national identities. In the 21st Century, could a common World Cup team wearing a blue and gold kit have the same effect?
The Ryder Cup already has a single European team competing against the United States. Originally, it was a biennial competition between golfers from the US and “Great Britain and Ireland”, but this was extended to include continental Europe from 1979 (largely due to the fact that Team America was continually dominating the competition). Could something similar be tried with other international sporting competitions?
If it had existed, “Team Europe” would have cleaned up at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, bagging 37 gold medals and leaving Russia trailing in second place with only 13. Would this inspire a common sense of identity? Or would it just leave national fans fuming?
Should there be a pan-European sports team? Would it help build a sense of common identity? Let us know your thoughts and comments in the form below, and we’ll take them to policymakers and experts for their reactions!
312 comments Post a commentcomment
The European team is nothing to do with the EU.
Nope.. Not yet.. People are still too attached to their national teams and identity.. Personally I would not have a single problem against it though…
@Christos Mouzeviris
I agree, if I was Greek I would want to change my national association too!
We would win every time lol
Just look how Yugoslavia done this and copy/paste. It is ok to have “republic sport” but one representation of whole Union need to exist :3
Since a lot of Europeans seem to be entertained and involved only with sport, YES. It would be a good step in spreading an European Spirit.
And what spirit is that then,because I don’t know if anybody really has spirit for the EU.
We don’t even have a common language how can we have a sport team or any social-political unity?
@Alex Sascha
I agree. Once English is made the official EU language, then, maybe…
We can we have hold so many Olympics more than any continent by many times.
Yes
No surprise…………if someone still wears the pink EU glasses, it`s Mathias. Good to know at least one Eurocratic survivor.
Well there will no hope for other teams then! Anyway yes, would be wonderful!
Debating Europe
Your nearly right, the Ryder cup was originally between Great Britain & the USA, we ‘allowed’ you to join ‘our’ team.
The question is will we kick ‘Europeans’ out when we leave your EU ?
Good point and probably will.
.
Only if you really want to annoy millions of football supporters across Europe.
Have you ever seen a supporter in any country waving your EU rag ?
http://static4.demotix.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/a_scale_large/2200-4/photos/1372648385-freedom-for-catalonia-concert-at-nou-camp-football-stadium_2211994.jpg
Definitelly yes
@Michal Majtan
Why is it that the ex-soviet countries and the Club Med countries are sooooo pro-EU. Could it be that charity, sorry I mean solicharity, sorry, I mean solidarity has tainted their perception.
@ Farquhar
The people from those areas have mostly state controlled pro EU media.
The countries from the 2002 EU have already suffered the bank- and euro crisis. Citizens from those countries have lost their pink EU glasses, thinking clear again and realise what the EU and euro have caused.
.
Your European Parliament tried that stunt at the London Olympics.
Made themselves look the fools they are.
http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/340201/EU-puts-itself-top-of-Olympic-medal-table-and-Britain-is-nowhere-to-be-seen
NO.
There are no other “continent” teams elsewhere, any ways. United States is not pan-north american, also. Besides, EU is not whole Europe, so pan-european would be a wrong term, unless it incorporates Albania, BiH, Kosovo, Serbia, Turkey,Norway, Island, Switzerland and others, aside EU member states.
A resounding YES
Would You ever cheer for a Dutch football player? I doubt it heavily.
Definitely yes.
NO.
Stay in you problems if you like it :)
There are already great European teams, people are involved in sport spirit and respectful events have their origin in Europe. The background is ready for Pan- European sports
@Michal Majtan
Why is it that the ex-soviet countries and the Club Med countries are sooooo pro-EU. Could it be that charity, sorry I mean solicharity, sorry, I mean solidarity has tainted their perception.
Europe would take all the olimpic medal (almost.)
Yes :)
lot of things should be pan-European, one of them sports as golf, already is.
no
A big yes. For a long time I dreamed of an EU team in every sport. I am positive I’ll see my dream come true.☺
Long leave the EU!
Shut up the EU is dead and it should be buried as soon as possible .
@Chris
Long leave the EU!
LOL!
Yes! :D
YES!! Absolutely.
The European Union as a federal state would be the first country in every single sector of this world: economic, military, olympics, respect of human rights, quality of life etc..
This is why we need the United States of Europe as soon as possible!
Guess why countries like USA and Russia have all the interests to keep our union divided.
The old romans used to say: DIVIDE ET IMPERA (divide and rule). Learn from the history.
Russia is partly in Europe. The European part is where most of the people live. You can’t have European sides and exclude Russia. This would be an extreme political provocation.
There is one major flaw with your idea….oh yes the the 2nd largest economy and the largest military is going to be leaving the EU next year.So that’s not going to be the case then
James,
EU and (geographic) Europe are two different concepts. Please understand what Ivan means here in his comment. I agree though that the “pan-European” in the question leaves room for misunderstanding.
@Ivan P. Romagnoli
Perhaps your prognsotications would be correct for a few years but by 2050 the EU population would be 450m, Africa’s would be 2100m, and Cina and India would exceed 1500m EACH!
The EU is too small to be a big player in the long run, it needs to join with the Anglosphere viz. North America and Australasia to compete…
@Romagnoli
Stop reading the pro EU propaganda and start thinking for Yourself!
The EU has put Europe in a mess, and a large one.
It will take a whole generation to rebuild Europe.
Money, time and knowledge gone thanks to the wet dream of a few politicians
Hmm… I don’t understand why do you claim that it is EU that has put Europe “in a mess.” Perhaps it is the fact that individual countries have too much to say instead?
@ Ott Toomet
Quite simple.
Within the EC the European countries worked together.
The French politicians wished to equalize the French with the high stabile German economy. And the Germans wished to be one Germany again.
That`s why a.o. reasons the EU and the Euro started.
With the EU and coin the trouble started because different countries didn`t keep their promises. And the politicians knew all about Athens and did nothing.
That`s why the EU politicians caused the European mess.
Hmm.. I am afraid you oversimplify.
But if this is indeed the case, couldn’t the solution be if the European level decisions are done by EP and not by member states?
Note also that nation states messed up the continent twice last century..
@Ott Toomet
What was wrong with the EC?
In those days, decisions were already taken by Brussels?
Why make it more difficult as they have?
Nowadays the EU and coin have devided Europe far more as ever in the EC era.
Clearly visible, if You check how much people vote for the EU.
Twice trouble in Europe? You`re forgetting 1956, and the Balkancrisis?
And how long do You think before the current refugees disaster will blast?
The current refugee crisis makes me uneasy. But I don’t see how a move toward less integration would help to solve it. Greece and Italy will still be overloaded with immigrants while their labor markets are slack… EU would be able to absorb more of them if they could freely move to where jobs are available.
We need to maintain EU national teams in Europe but in WORLD CUP, we absolutly need European sports teams, espacially in Football.
It would give to Europeans citizens a stronger sense of feeling and belonging to Europe….and a sense of pride of beeing a European…
Or it would make us seethe with anger that the EU political elite is attempting to destroy national identities.
Oh how I cannot wait to be dictated to by the EU so I can be proud to be European.I’ve never classed myself as European ever I’m English then British.
@Ivan P. Romagnoli
Perhaps your prognsotications would be correct for a few years but by 2050 the EU population would be 450m, Africa’s would be 2100m, and Cina and India would exceed 1500m EACH!
The EU is too small to be a big player in the long run, it needs to join with the Anglosphere viz. North America and Australasia to compete…
Definitely yes!
Yes!
Duh..
I dont really see the point.
Yes
Νο. Europe has 50 different nation countries. The E.U has 28 member states. Quit compare the two. They have different history and thus different concept of being.
Agree!
Yes.
Y-E-S
Yes please!
YEES!
Forming pan-European sports teams won’t cause the European demos to sprout from the ground like a mushroom. It can form only when the current economical and social issues are solved, so that the gap between the richest EU countries and the poorest ones becomes smaller. A working bulgarian engineer earns less as a wage than e.g. the welfare an unemployed uneducated drunkard in Denmark or the UK receives. How can you have a united demos under these conditions? With a sports team? Yeah, right! A united demagogy more like.
really nice idea. This implies that all Europeans are part of the same team and working towards the same goals. is it really so?
Simple answer, No
Pan – european team? An excellent idea.
.
It has to be the dumbest of dumb idea’s.
A brief history of ‘European Solidarity’:
+12 million dead in your Napoleonic wars to unite the peoples of Europe under one flag, one anthem & one dogma.
+ 40 million dead in your First ‘European’ world war to unite the peoples of Europe under one flag, one anthem & one dogma.
+80 million dead in your Second ‘European’ world war to unite the peoples of Europe under one flag, one anthem & one dogma.
Fascism, Nazism, Communism & now Europeanism.
Different flag, different anthems but the same crazed lust for power over the peoples of Europe.
Thank god it’s dying.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e965eca6-1e45-11e5-ab0f-6bb9974f25d0.html
Amen my brother the sooner it’s buried the better
Definitely NOT .Under no circumstances ever !!!!!
I am not sure that Russia and Turkey would want to be part of European teams or if other nations would want them to be part of a European team.
Seriously, it’s a stupid idea to interfere. If nations want to get together from time to time for specific events like the Ryder Cup, then great. Other than that, leave politics out of sport. Only a rabid promoter of a federal European superstate would want to destroy national sporting sides.
.
Team EU ?! lol
You talk as if everyone loves the EU, they do not.
When the irreversible currency becomes the temporary currency the federalist nightmare will finally die.
http://www.euractiv.com/sections/euro-finance/change-eu-treaty-so-countries-can-leave-eurozone-316632
There should be a pan-European team and each athlete should have the option to join in or stick to their national team.
Yeah, baseball, american and australian football and beat the heck out of them them at their games :)
@Ironworker
Baseball originated in the UK BTW.
NO
Golf is an exception and I support Team Europe in the Ryder Cup, but in most sports, such as football, national teams represent nations, even the United Kingdom is formed by four nations with their own teams internationally. Europe or the European Union isn’t a nation, therefore national teams should remain as they are.
Yes
.
The EU is going to hell in a hand cart but the federalist fanatics are pretending Europe is one big happy clappy country, if it wasn’t so sad it would be laughable.
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/may/28/uk-quit-european-union-eu-reforms-philip-hammond
Al Rot
Golf is an exception…:)
.
The EU is going to hell in a hand cart but the federalist fanatics continue to pretend Europe is one big happy clappy country, if it wasn’t so sad it would be laughable.
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/may/28/uk-quit-european-union-eu-reforms-philip-hammond
Al Rot
.
It is obvious the EU federalist fanatics in here think Europe is one country but like most things with the oddballs it only exists in their heads.
Meanwhile back in reality….
http://www.thelocal.de/20150727/ex-foreign-minister-blasts-merkels-fatal-greece-policy
Yes, we’re all lovey-dovey Europeans together until national interests conflict. The time-honoured basis for international co-operation is to act in the best interests of one’s nation, and then seek to do deals with other countries for mutual benefit. It’s the language we all understand (once outside the EU bubble).
James,
this is how (international) politics is done but unfortunately not always the best way to do it. For instance, the accusations that EU has dysfunctional foreign/defence/environment/you-name-it policy is related to the fact that these policies are largely done at national level while it would be more efficient to have a federal structure that decides over these. Different problems are best to handle at different level, sometimes this means municipalities, sometimes EU. We need a functioning mechanism that balances the particular interests with the common good.
To the topic: I am not sure if EU sport team will be a “common good”. It will be an identity building tool, for sure.
The “common good” is never good for individual members of the public, only those in positions of power….. whether that be politics or business…….
@Ott Toomet
“It will be an identity building tool, for sure.”
Identity? Who`s identity? I `am Dutch, for which Spanish or Baltic athletic sporter should I cheer? I feel no connection with these countries or people.
No one from Greece or Spain will ever cheer for the Dutch
you “are” Dutch… In terms of biology, you are human. Everything else is socialization, the way how people around behave. You could as well be European or Amsterdammer or westerner or whatever, if the identity were constructed in a different way.
We should think about which identity is more useful.
Irrelevant.
Who cares about the Ryder Cup?!
The EU is not mandated for «sports»…
YES! Definitely!
Sure, Why Not? All this would Show European Pride And make a ‘we’ feeling!
I`m a European Federalist at heart but I think we should first make the federation and then think about if we should have a unified team or not.
If Romanian gymnastics would be well funded would dominate world gymnastics as we did during Communist times.It was because of Romania a rule was implemented so one country shouldn`t have the entire podium. :)
I think we should wait until European sentiment grows a bit.
You will be waiting along time then .Because it will never happen the EU sucks
@Pirvulescu Florin
What RACIST crap!
Wealth is not the sole indicator of success!
The ONLY reason why soviet countries did well in sports was due to DRUGS, LIES and MONEY that same could NOT afford.
When the West and indeed China focussed on sports then Soviet cheating sports success DIED!
No, people are too attached to their own countries and do not want to see the EU as one country but a union of individual sovriegn nations, and thats the way it should stay.
Agree!!
Nope.
No , we should keep it for nationalists
No but i think the European anthem should be played as the national anthem are.
you can use the german team…
Never death to the EU
First you would need a common organisation.
That’s not going to happen.
In the UK they can’t even decide on an all British team to compete in the Fifa football world cup (it’s always England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland competing separately – same with the Rugby). Nobody seems to have any appetite for changing that.
A pan European ticket would be even more pointless. It would turn the Rugby Six Nations into a competition with only one side competing. …
why to mix politics and sport?
No because who the hell is going to pick the team?….the Germans no doubt
Though in the interest of Euro-harmony there will probably be a policy of having a squad consisting of one player from each country…
The Germans will provide the captain………obviously
The Italians will provide the best diver
Uruguay will provide the best biter
The Dutch can provide the best spitter
The French ignore the rules so they will provide two players, one with a good headbutt and another with a decent line in kung-fu kicks for any unruly spectators
Poland can provide anybody as long as their name ends in “ski”
England will provide anyone who can score a penalty (yet to be discovered)
Who cares? There are more important issues on the table.
hmmmm… to compete against who? No, that I don´t think so…
Well speaking as someone who has actually attended a Ryder cup event (Rochester N.Y 1995) I can only say that out of the thousands of Star spangled banners and Irish flags on show there was hardly any E.U flags to be seen,in fact I think I saw more Italy flags from people supporting some Italian on the E.U team that none of us had ever heard of.And to top it all, out of our works party of about 25 people 10 of us were non-American yet all of us cheered like crazy when the German Bernard Langer was beaten,so much for European unity
There is no European unity. The countries of Europe have been fighting against each other for centuries and if people think a bunch of failed domestic politicians can wipe out inter-country rivalries and force a sense of “unity” in a few decades just by creating a flag and picking some overplayed Beethoven tune as an anthem, then they are seriously deluded
Paul,
it is not just black-and-white. There is not too much unity, sure, but there is some of it. Flags, sports teams, etc might be useful tools to build on it and take us one additional step further away from fighting against each other for next few centuries as well.
Ott
do you seriously think that sports fans are oing to cheer for the EU and can you imagine the carnage in the crowd of a football game with all the EU fans in one end .The EU flag is vile I have only two flags the St George and the Union Jack.As far from killing each other I think that for most countries is gone anyway due to the fact most EU countries don’t even have proper full time forces ,those that do have proper professional forces also have nukes ,big deterrent.The idea of an EU army is also a No go i can tell you for a fact the No British solider would ever fight for the EU and i assume the French would feel the same.People need to let go of this EU we are all as one and together idea,we can still be allies but separate,the EU is dying and will be gone soon,move on .
@Paul X
I think the whole EU idea is reasonable good described by You. They never should have left the EC thought and wealth.
I think this idea has potential for certain sports. This probably need an European federation for that particular field (I mean EU federation here, not geographic Europe) to be a member of the international federation. I see quite a significant potential for such cross-national teams to boast common identity. On the other hand, it is probably not not going to happen in more popular sports, and it is perhaps not desirable either. After all, a single EU team means 28x smaller chances to participate for each of US.
I case of soccer, I currently see more room for individual clubs to participate in the world cup than EU.
Ott I’m afraid you should face reality. Whilst Euro-fanatics would love to see integrated teams they seem oblivious to the fact that the majority of public (i.e. taxpayers who pay their wages) does not share their idealogies
Take for example the union between Scotland and England, this has existed for centuries longer then the EU yet you will find the vast majority of Scots would rather hack off their legs than support anything connected to England
It is all about having pride in your country and it’s history and if anyone has any suggestions of anything the EU has done that makes people proud then I would love to hear what it is
I reiterate that currently joint teams may be realistic for less popular sports where there is hard to come up with a national team.
About taxpayers and all that… It is somewhat different topic. But one can also argue that if, say, 90% majority is in favor of national teams, one should also have 90% of national and 10% EU teams. Or whatever, winner-takes-all seems like a rather extreme approach.
Ott
Your British arnt you .if so you must live in an EU country.why would you think that it would work on any level
No.
Let there be unity in diversity, and LET EACH NATION KEEP THEIR IDENTITY.
One European team AFTER one language viz. English.
Tarquin, you’re such a troll! :))
Maybe, but I think in the future certain federations should submit state teams in competitions rather than a federal team amongst smaller countries otherwise it will be an EU/USA domination which would be overly predictable and boring.
Next time, all pro-EU (anti democracy) parties must run for election on a pledge to abolish all national teams (like for the football World Cup). Let’s see how many votes they will retain. No one here in NL will vote for that.
How can we not have EU teams!?
It’s about time we start competing against other countries. So far, the EU had won every Olympics when you add the medals for the individual EU regions together. Yet, we did not get recognition because the EU’s regions or member states claim their own medals…
The EU is not a country and who cares if the combined total of European medals would ‘win’ every Olympics . Would that be the case without UK as we would rather play for team Commonwealth , maybe the Americas would join forces ,team Asia would be pretty strong .
This is one boring idea
Because we want them ,who can be proud of that flag and the EU in general.I prefer to stick with God save the Queen and the Union Jack thanks.
This just will never happen . Sport is about rivalry ,that’s England V Scotland , Sweden V Norway or Spain v Portugal (there are many others) its not about Europe V whoever . Boring the pants off everyone with your flag and your anthem whilst promoting the failed concept of a united Europe .
The Ryder Cup is a strange exception ,a match between the best golfers in Europe and those in America . It has nothing what so-ever to do with the EU and for the life of me cannot understand how that blue rag with its ring of stars has gained a foothold on that particular sporting stage .
This article may shed some light
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/golf/10543949/Ryder-Cup-creates-rare-notion-of-united-Europe
That’s a NO from me then .
Europe as a continent have produced some of the best sportsmen and women in the world, as well as some of the best teams. From Tennis (Rodger Federer), to Football (Spanish and German Teams), to Rugby (English and French Teams. If we where to unite we would have by far and away the best teams in the world for most major sports. And think how boring that would be. There is no point supporting a team that will always win. That’s why I have always supported English/British teams; not because they win all the time (they often loose) but because there is competition.
People say a divided European sports teams might create friction, but it won’t. When I watch rugby England vs France I love cheering England on not because i dislike France but because I love England. This is why divided sports teams in Europe will ultimately unite us with competition, rather then divide us with sporting friction.
Ultimately unite us haha I like your enthusiasm but I’m afraid your wrong this will never happen ,be friends yes trade together yes but political unification and United States of Espew NEVER!!!.I’m English then British but never ever European.There will be war if they try and force this on the people of Europe there will be trouble.Britain benefits in NO way from EU and to try and use sport just shows how sad the whole project is.
Sport is about pushing the limits and exelence, and international sport events are as much for sport as for bringing the world together. I dont think there is any other tool the world has that brings people from all over the world together. So in a sence it should be a positive thing to have an eu team on international sport events, but the first thing currently that comes to my mind is who are those athletes representing since there is still no such unity and sence of european nationalism? Maybe too political at this time. BUT than again it would be a hell of a great basketball team :).
.
Yes definitely, never again will Germany, France, Holland or Spain win the world cup … a brilliant idea.
Thank god we are leaving the pointless EU.
No!
Yes, would be awesome!!!
For some sports, could be cool. There is no problem in the Ryder Cup. Maybe we can import the model for other sports which Europe is not competitive, but US it is. Like golf. I am not apply for EUteams for every sport, but the idea could be nice in some cases.
.
A point of Order, the Ryder Cup is a trophy played for between the United States & Great Britain / Northern Ireland.
‘Europe’ is a quest of Great Britain / Northern Ireland so when we leave the EU will not be part of the team.
When we leave?? Jajajajajajajajaja… Ok super-motivated Tory-Ukiper… I though I was speaking with a rational Tory, shame…
I admire and support the main British traditions and valours… I strongly agree that EU is too burocratic… And has much to learn from UK…. But, yes I think that the Brexit is a nationalist obsession, no question about that in the modern and globalised world in which we live….
I don’t want force nothing, I just said the idea of EU teams could be cool and interesting. You want to sack 30M of Britons from EU without their consent…. Is not the same.
Germany has closed its borders! Looks like the EU is crumbling!
Yes!!
Yes …
Never
.
You talk about a ‘European’ team on the day Germany is about to close it’s border, have you any idea what this means for the Austrian people ?
Hungary will still let them pass & Germany will stop them entering.
The Austrian people are in for one hell of a shock about what it means to be ‘European’.
http://www.dw.com/en/reports-germany-to-reinstate-border-controls-at-austria-frontier/a-18712042
Yes. How can we not!? All the other countries have their teams while in the EU our regions or member states play even one another.
Yes :)
Hmm. No.
No
why not ?
NO!!!
No
No. Another dumb idea. I always support the USA during the Ryder cup. Just because I hate the eu
By NO MEANS!
.
Asking if there should be one team to represent +50 countries is without doubt the stupidest question yet.
no.
No,why?
Eu has 28, but Europe has 50 countries.
No! Because,nothing can change those feelings…. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVi3d57IBeE
Well, there’re countries that don’t know what to be world champions feels like. Why not in some friendly matches basketball, football, hockey…? Greets from the Kingdom of Spain hahaha
I’d like to
no
It can only work when you have continent A v continent B as per golf. In addition to national competition it could work for sports like ice hockey or hand ball.
.
How times have changed.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/oct/17/angela-merkel-german-multiculturalism-failed
To play with?!…
To play with Murrrika? Why not!
For me politics should focust on important things: improving access to social services, fiscal policies, coheshion etc. entertainment (sports) is certainly not one of them
First there should be a pan-European EU to have a team about it. Don’t bet on it any time soon…
EU has resolved all its other internal problems????
No
.
Why have no need of an EU team to be successful & I doubt the Germans, French, Spanish, Italians, etc have either.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/08/12/article-2187081-14812679000005DC-762_472x659.jpg
Yes
Yes. That would be cool.
Why not… In some cases allowing an EU team would be good… the EU team would just win everything in some competitions or sports…
Competing with USA, China and UK in some cases would have more sense when there would be a one EU team…
No !
Yes, sport is one of the greatest “identities creators” of our society. It would help us to feel as one. As brothers.
Lien Simcic, should be? ;-)
NO!!
Europe vs Latin America in football!
No. European identity not needed
YES!
yes!!!
The should be no pan-european anything. Stop trying to dissolve ny people…
No
No!multiculturalism already failed
I am thinking NO.
Yes.
Yes!
Estoy totalmente a favor de la constitucion de equipos de la Unión Europea. Contribuiría mucho a la percepción de la identidad común Europea. Yo me alegro siempre del éxito de las selecciones europeas. Me gustaria tener una en comun con los mejores de Europa.
lol
..
We had this question in 2012, it was a stupid idea then & with Nationalism on the rise across ‘the EU’ its an even more idiotic question, its never going to happen.
Nationalism Rules, cope with it.
No, not really. The Olympics are a sham anyways.
No. And, oh, by the way, the Olympics should go back to a simple sports event where the best can participate, rich or poor. Stop this glitzy nonsense that financially sinks cities and leaves behind construction monstrosities with no real use whatsoever.
NO! What a preposterous idea!
And, oh, by the way, the Olympics should go back to a simple sports event where the best can participate, rich or poor.
And while you are at it, stop this glitzy nonsense that financially sinks cities and leaves behind construction monstrosities with no real use whatsoever.
First of All …with the Vivid Racism of the Northern countries (especially from Germany) against the Southern ones of the E.U. (like Greece, ecc.) there cannot be any “Pan-European” Team… Second, since we had so many Scandals regarding the making and executing of the Olypmic Games, a Permanent Return of them to their “Mother-Land” Greece, and especially in Olympia’s aera, would be a great solution and can revive the Spirit of them. There can be a continuance of awarding the Olympic Games to countries, but as a part of “Honoured Country” that will have a more privilege role in the opening and in the closing ceremonies but in Olympia, Greece. And, time to Stop using Olympic Games for political purposes, like the exclusion of Russian athletes that happened in Rio.
http://washingtonmonthly.com/2016/07/03/to-avoid-another-rio-make-greece-the-olympics-permanent-home/#.V6OuhoJouxW.facebook
No .
Obviously not. If unionists and federalists want a team for themselves I recomend the Refugee team that Brazil created…
Oh what a silly time wasting idea.
No.
No, I think our national teams are good enough to succeed in their own right. Plus sticking with our own national teams gives more of our athletes the chance to compete on the world stage. If anything we’d be better of with a Pan-EU games where nations can compete with each other in a brotherly fashion. (And don’t turn it into a Olympics sized capitalist circus)
Why not???
If we don’t have a European team – then why do we have the EU?
Why not ? I like the idea.. It’s about time to start getting over nationalism here in Europe and work towards the idea of EU.
Yes.
Sure, and lets end the Uefa Euro Cup and all other Euro competitions… We are all europe right? Lets Only compete in the World Cups under EU Flag… You are taking this a little too far. I am a proud Nationalist and a proud EU citizen, although most people nowadays dont believe these 2 feelings are compatible.
Absolutely no
No….
No! EU has many different nations!
.
Only Nation States are allowed to join global National competitions (including the Olympics and the EU is not & never will be a Nation State so the question is meaningless.
I do not think Asia, Africa, America would accept a continental team
No 😊
It is no good idea at all!!!
We should maybe ask the athletes.
No. 1. The EU is an economic and political entity of convenience for the member states. 2. Apart from the Ryder cup, there is no European identity. 3. “Ever closer union” isn’t just a bad idea, it’s a dangerous one.
.
Not only will there be no EU team at the Olympic but also the Ryder Cup is a British / American tournament so ‘Europeans’ will be kicked out of that too. :)
It will be difficult unless Europeans Wake up!
No
No.europe does not exist…yet
no, EU is not a state yet
No.
Matteo Mantovani here the perfect floor where you can explain your point of view about the topic!
Yeah, destroy all European diversity. Unify everything, beginning from taxes and legislation and ending with entertainment and sports. This will make entire Europe suck equally.
Yes, one that includes the scots
Ryan E. Mellor there is a refugee team, that you could join. Not sure if they would have you though…
this year from… next year from…?
No….diversity is more fun…
Of course not!
It’s a completely unrealistic idea. Sports it also about the cultural representation of every single European nation participating in a sports event. The creation of a single European team would mean forgetting about all of the cultural differences while forcing the creation of a (non existing) European (sports) identity.
Of course.
No way!!!!
No way. Europe is a continent not a country.
Get a grip !
More Globalist-Fascist propaganda. And there is already a “refugee” team in the Onlympics.
Should there be a pan-European ban?
No !
Η μαλακία πάει σύννεφο
I am favor of creating europe team ?
Yes, we need more integration. https://www.facebook.com/Placeluxe/photos/a.271647696262070.63892.225006300926210/325340277559478/?type=3&theater
By no means! Or probably with all the third to forth grade contestants. :D
No, but there should be the European games, like the Pan American
Yes. Definitely!
no
Όπως έχω ξαναγράψει, σχετική πρόταση κατέθεσε προ 35ετίας στο Ευρωκοινοβούλιο ο Λεωνίδας Κύρκος, η οποία απερρίφθη μετ’ επαίνων ως “ανώριμη για τις παρούσες (τότε) συνθήκες.
nu are ceva cu limpezime nu scrie curat nu indelec ce nu scriu imi platie
Replace European Commission with elected executive, then we’ll talk. :P
WHAT???????
These Olympics will be remembered as the most corrupt and politically motivated in history.
Soros’ idea ?
No.
Does the E.E treat all its memeber states as equals so as to participate a European team! I;m afraid that;s not the case!
If the Welsh and Scottish have separate football teams why should we have a common one. Anyway, there’d be no competition we’d beat’em all
Olympics should take place always at Olympia.
no
Yes yes and yes
No
This is such a stupid question, but the very fact that it is even being seriously asked explains why some countries and peoples want to leave the EU. If Europe is a team, they should compete with team Asia or North America or Africa. If EU is a team, they should compete with team NAFTA, or ASEAN or Mercosur etc. Dumb. Neither Europe nor EU are countries. One is a continent and the other is an international organisation of trade and cooperation. Let’s keep it that way!
No
Yeees!! We will win everything!!
Hahahahahahahahhaah are you serious?
NO! The eu should be focused on other major problems, the invaders, their willing helper and their exotic and fatherlandhater ideas and behaviour.
A vote at the EU Parliament proposed in the early 80ies by a Greek PM (pro-European Left) had about 25% of YES. In fact it was proposed to have the same uniform with the various National badges on it.
No
Não.
We are NOT united at all !..so FORGET IT !
Indeed, we should !
Indeed, we should !
Cuando los franceses y los alemanes dejen de creerse el ombligo de Europa, quizás…
And abolish national teams? NO!
Νο. I feel and I am Greek, not European.
Be proud about your country and your unique national identity and characteristics.
James Gallagher thoughts ?
I think Greeks we should take our games back and the rest of the world can name some other games to spend money’s on infrastructure, cold war tactics, and politics in general through this event. Name it what you want and do what you want with it. Bring the Olympics back home! On your way bring our marbles too! 😜
Best would be one athlete from each continent
What a suggestion…
Then there should be also a north american one, south american, african, asiatic, oceanic😀
If you want people to lose all interest in Olympics, then sure, why not?
Nope
No.
Definately
Europe is just a gegraphical place, that lays on the two borders of the river “Evros” mainly in today Bulgaria. Nations are differnt, citizechip is diffrent and so on. We are everybody kind of Homo Sapiens, despite the nation, religion or enything else.
To hell with the European Onion.
Защо забравяме, че стига до Урал?
European Union. A phrase, that has multiple meaning. As an union it should act as a military union too, because there are some small countries, which can not defend themselves. But pan-European sports team? I think it is too early for that cap.
No, ofc it shouldn’t
It’s like saying, do you like to start to built an European dictatorship?
Absolutely yes :) 🇪🇺❤️
not a pan-European, but a European Union one! 🇪🇺💙
Lol give it a rest
With so much misery in the World, so many workers struggling to survive, and millions are spent for the dream, vanity and-or of greed of few, and UN-EU doesn’t say a word against, instead they bless them!! Shameful!!!
Absolutely YES :) would be the stronger team in the world
Death to the corrupt Olympic Commitee.
no,now shut up
seriously stupid
No
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VR-lAGj_dlQ
Smash globalist scum!
Why ??? Is there a pan European education, a pan European labor context, a pan European healthcare, pan European law, pan European Tax, border or defense policy , a pan European vision and spirit ?
Yes !!!
ΝΟ
YES!!!
No. Stupid idea
We would rock.
They’d win gold medal in loansharking
A vote at the EU Parliament proposed in the early 80ies by a Greek PM (pro-European Left) had about 25% of YES. In fact it was proposed to have the same uniform with the various National badges on it.
No.
In rare and unpopular sports – Yes!
No! Never!
Eurexit to day
Yes! Although I can understand reservations on a single EU football team, a single huge EU delegation would be a wonderful blend of young talents. And no more objections from Britons, they’re going away…
Thank you, debating Europe, for raising this subject. We have wasted too much time without a single EU olympic delegation.
Yes, because the games should stop reek of nationalism
No way. Dot.
No, EU is not a country.
No
What’s the real intention of this question?
Look around and answer me what do we have as a common goal which was not imposed by the economic interest – the market.
Are you looking for something that could reinforce the profits of central europe sport brands?
So, let’s try as a pan-european project, to answer to basic needs of people: employment – not slavery! – housing; education; health care; pensions; etc.
For those goals, YES! I want a common european “team”.
Then, the other common “teams”, will arise naturally.
Don’t try the “roof” before the “walls”!
Yes, great idea! Why don’t we have that for a long time? Member state teams are so 20th century. And many people identify with successful sport teams. Full agreement with that idea!