An Olympic anniversary
Monday, 6 April 2009 4:52 PM
By politics.co.uk staff
On this day in 1896 the first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens, but an event designed to unite the world still prompts division - especially in the UK.
Britain still has over three years to prepare for the Games, with the budget currently standing at £9.35 billion, well over the £7 billion spent on the 2004 Athens Games, but less than the Beijing Games, which cost somewhere between £10 billion and £20 billion.
To see a timeline of Olympic political history click here.
But politically, the most controversial and headache-inducing aspect of the Games involves the creation of a British football team.
Last week, the British Olympic Association (BOA) reiterated its support for the plan and rounded on critics.
The Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland Football Associations are implacably opposed to the idea, and the Scottish National party has focused on the issue relentlessly since it was first muted.
To read a comment piece arguing for a British football team click here.
"Clearly what we don't want is sports administrators and politicians getting in the way of preventing people from competing," said BOA chief executive Andrew Hunt.
"But it is challenging to get everybody aligned."
Fifa president Sepp Blatter has suggested the team should comprise only English players to avoid future complications.
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