ODE TO JOY ?

I think it was last Thursday when the European Parliament backed a report calling for the EU logo to be worn on the shirts of teams and individuals competing in sporting contests across Europe.   This would include the England football team being required to have the EU flag emblazoned on their shirts, as illustrated, as would rugby, cricket and other teams.

The report which contained this hare brained notion was `The European Dimension In Sport,` which having been approved by the EU Parliament will now be considered - and no doubt rubber-stamped - by the EU Commission.   Among other recommendations, the report also suggests that the European flag should be flown at major international sporting events `on the EU territory.`   It adds that sports should `consider the idea of having it displayed on the clothing of athletes from Member States alongside with the national flags,` although it is suggested that it should be voluntary and left to Member States and sports organisations to decide.

Well, I just hope that teams representing this country will not be subjected to this nonsense not only because it`s just plain daft but also, if complied with, it is yet another step along the way towards the European Superstate much coveted by our continental friends.   This dream of theirs is once again illustrated by the report`s language when it refers to `events held on EU territory.`  First I`ve heard of the EU having any `territory` but maybe I shouldn`t be surprised, for such is the blind ambition and out of touch presumption of the Brussels bureaucrats.

 Not sure this is what we signed up to when we joined the Common Market all those years ago but it all makes me wonder just how long it will be before we have the spectacle of Wayne Rooney and his chums goose-stepping their way onto the Wembley pitch to the ironic strains of `Ode to Joy.`