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NI Commonwealth Games team warns logo could replace flag

Hayley HalpinBBC News NI
News imageGetty Images/Commonwealth Games Northern Ireland A collage of two images side by side - on the left is the Ulster Banner flag flying from a lampost. It is a white flag with a red cross. In the centre of a cross is a white star and in the centre of that is a red hand. Above the star with the hand is a crown. Trees can be seen behind the flag. On the right is the logo for Commonwealth Games Northern Ireland, which is a stylised red hand on top of of the words TeamNIGetty Images/Commonwealth Games Northern Ireland
Officials say the Ulster Banner (left) could be replaced by a logo when Team Northern Ireland competes in this year's Commonwealth Games

The official in charge of Northern Ireland's Commonwealth Games team has said it is still waiting on guidance on what flag the team will compete under, despite multiple requests to The Executive Office.

Conal Heatley, chief executive of Commonwealth Games Northern Ireland (CGNI), said that if no guidance is provided then it will use its logo at Glasgow 2026.

Previously the team competed under the Ulster Banner but the flag has no official status in Northern Ireland although it is used by some sports teams. CGNI first raised the issue of the flag more than three years ago.

First Minister Michelle O'Neill said on Monday that the flag is an "issue for the team themselves".

Speaking to BBC Radio Ulster's Nolan Show earlier on Monday, Heatley said the CGNI had written to the Executive Office "on a number of occasions".

"We have met with civil servants and they operate within parameters set by politicians. They were very helpful conversations that we had but it didn't progress anything," Heatley said.

He added the CGNI reached out to the five main political parties, but "quite sadly only two of them have met with us".

News imageA close up image of a man with short grey hair. He is standing in front of a white building with a green banner and graffiti on the front of it. There is a row of cars parked behind him.
Conal Heatley says if there is no guidance provided by politicians TeamNI will use its logo at Glasgow 2026.

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons said he has written to CGNI stating that the Ulster Banner should be used as the flag.

"There is no need for change and the flag should remain," Lyons, who is responsible for sport under his ministerial remit, said in a social media post.

Flag 'issue for team members'

Speaking to reporters at Stormont, the first minister said it was an issue for CGNI.

She said they had "taken on board the feelings of their athletes – the people that actually compete for them".

"They didn't feel themselves that what they had was reflective or inclusive so I commend the work they're doing and whatever I can do to help them, I'm here to do so, but I do believe that the suggestion that's been mooted – that they go with their own team logo – I think that's a fine way forward," O'Neill said.

News imagePA Media A close-up of Michelle O'Neill. She is a middle aged woman with shoulder-length blonde hair. She is smiling at the camera. She is wearing a black blazer and a blue and white striped shirt. She is sitting in front of a white wall.PA Media
First Minister Michelle O'Neill says it is up to team members about the flag

Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Gavin Robinson told reporters on Monday that he is "not sure why there seems to be a quest to delve into a political row".

"I see members of our community, be they unionist, nationalist, of Protestant faith or Roman Catholic faith, all proudly standing by the Northern Ireland flag when they participate in games," Robinson said.

"So the injection of this unnecessary political request, I don't think is helpful. I'm not sure what the outcome is going to be either, but from our perspective there's no need for change."

Meanwhile, Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) leader Jim Allister told the Nolan Show: "It's a matter for government to change the flag if that's the desire. If government doesn't, then it's up to the Commonwealth Games Association to get on with it and to stop their politicking."

What is the Ulster Banner?

News imageGetty Images The flag has a red cross on a white background. On top of the centre of the cross is a six-pointed white star. The top point of the star protrudes inside a golden crown with precious stones and inside the star is a red hand with the palm open. Getty Images
The Ulster Banner has been used for Team Northern Ireland at previous Commonwealth Games

The Ulster Banner was the flag of the former Government of Northern Ireland from 1953 until it was was abolished in 1973.

While in the Olympics, athletes from Northern Ireland can choose to compete for Team GB - which uses the Union Flag - or Team Ireland - which uses the Irish tricolour.

In the Commonwealth Games the Ulster Banner has been used as the flag of the Northern Ireland contingent.

Unlike the Olympics, the four contingent parts of the UK compete separately at the Commonwealth Games, meaning none is represented by the Union Flag.

The Union Flag has no official status in British law and is regarded as the national flag of the United Kingdom by virtue of custom and practice.

Heatley said the Union Flag would not work at the Commonwealth Games because it did not "uniquely represent" Northern Ireland.

"It's recognised that the Ulster Banner holds cultural significance for a large section of one side of community in Northern Ireland and I think we need to be honest about this and say there are people on the other side of community who don't feel the same about that," Heatley said.

He said that "in the absence of a flag that we're instructed to use by politicians, the only thing that we can do" is use the CGNI logo.

A £800,000 Stormont report was released in December 2021, aimed at addressing disputes over flags and bonfires.

It has not been implemented.

The report mentioned a new flag for Northern Ireland - it would "not be a regional flag or a national flag but rather a civic flag that would be designed to be representative of the diversity of our society, including our new communities".

It was unable to reach consensus on the proposal and said it hoped political and civic leaders could progress the issue.

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