Ulster Unionist Party leader Doug Beattie has revealed he wants a new sports anthem for Northern Ireland to galvanize pride in our sports teams and sports stars.
Eattie describes his suggestion in an exclusive question on the sports series with political leaders from today in the Belfast Telegraph.
In the interview, Beattie addresses a number of key sporting issues including the Casement Park saga, the controversy over funding for sub-regional stadiums for football, the prospect of an all-Irish football team and grounds and competitions of the GAA bearing the names of IRA members.
The UUP leader also talks about his sporting hero, his favorite sporting moment, what sport means to him and his family and what his party plans to do for sport after the upcoming elections in Stormont.
Asked about his views on the debate over the national anthem and God Save The Queen being played ahead of the Northern Ireland internationals and the Irish Cup final, Beattie said: “I think there’s two points to that I’m very proud every time our national anthem God Save The Queen is played I’m really proud when I hear this but I would love to see a sports anthem for Northern Ireland and not just the football, I guess, but a sports anthem for Northern Ireland along the lines of what we have in Scotland and Wales.
“There is a discussion to be had about what the Northern Ireland sports anthem would be. I wouldn’t be prescriptive as to what that sports anthem might be, but what I would like is a sports anthem that really galvanizes Northern Irish pride in the same way Flower of Scotland does.
Before the Irish rugby team plays its home matches, the Irish national anthem and Ireland’s call, written by Phil Coulter, is played.
Beattie added: “It’s interesting that whenever Ireland play at home they play both anthems, but when Ireland play away they only play the Ireland call. That northern ireland sports anthem can very well be used in this vein when we are away from sport, be it athletics, football or rugby with Ulster or whatever it is that we can use as a sports anthem “That doesn’t take away from the fact that we can still play our national anthem in Northern Ireland stadiums when we play home games. Ultimately, a sports anthem is about promoting sport for everyone.”