Re: Russian Ukraine War
Reply #93 –
So then all flags of all nations should be banned from tennis events around the world?
Of course there are other ways to support your country than raising a flag, but sport is parochial in nature.
This doesn't address whether or not the Russian flag itself should be banned.
I don't have an issue if all flags are banned, I don't even have an issue if they do choose to ban a specific flag and the Russian one at the present time has a cause to be banned because of the angst it can create for certain individuals seeing it waved.
Personally I think all flags of all nature are a bit obnoxious (including the Carlton ones at our games) because when waved about they hinder the views of others.. but people in Australia generally have a right to wave flags at sporting events.
Perhaps Aussie Aussie Aussie ... Oi Oi Oi
Should be banned as well if we are considering obnoxious ways of supporting individuals in events that are not nationality based.
Yes to most of that MIO.
The Australian Open has been used in the past by some folk to promote particular nationalistic, ethnic, religious, political, and/or cultural statements and enmities. That should be discouraged and it takes banning national flags to do so, well and good.
Other tennis competitions, as I mentioned previously, are national team competitions and I think it's fair enough to allow flags or other symbols at those event, provided that they won't cause offense/distress.
"Aussie Aussie Aussie ... Oi Oi Oi" should definitely be banned at all events. Surely we can come up with something better