Equally insulting, the American team was assigned a marching position just in front of the “British Colonies,” who, in turn, were followed by the United Kingdom. Where was the American flag? The British said they had been unable to find one. The stadium displayed the flags of all the competing nations, except that of the United States. On July 13, King Edward VII declared the Fourth Olympiad opened. Watching the latest British suppression of Irish nationalism put Irish Americans at a fever pitch.

Several Irish champions refused to compete rather than be used again by the British. In its place he flew a green flag for Ireland.ĭespite O’Connor’s act of defiance, Britain was now out to garner more victories by such “British” athletes in the 1908 Olympics in London. One of them, Peter O’Connor, rushed to the Olympic flagpole after winning the hop, step and jump, and pulled down the Union Jack, which had been raised in honor of his victory. Having to represent Britain infuriated the Irish athletes.

The policy had worked well for Britain in the 1906 Intercalated Olympics in Athens, where Irish athletes won most of Britain’s medals in track and field.

In 1908, as the world’s attention focused on the Olympic Games in London, Britain had decided again not to allow Ireland to field its own team, imperiously stating, “Ireland is not a nation.” All Irish athletes would have to compete as members of the British team.

Empire total war italian states