Raising the red flag of similarity: Romania-Chad, New Zealand-Australia
Recently, New Zealand accused its neighbour Australia of copying their flag.
By ET Bureau |
Agencies
By Viandra D'souza
With New Zealand accusing its neighbour Australia of copying their flag, a look at the eerily similar flags of different countries around the world. New Zealand (L) and Australia flag Haiti and Liechtenstein
Haiti (L) and Liechtenstein flag It was during the 1936 Olympics that these two countries realised that they were using the same flag. Haiti’s civilian flag, which was used for sporting events, was the same as Liechtenstein’s with horizontal blue and red bands. After the similarity came to light, Liechtenstein added a gold crown to their flag.
Romania and Chad
Romania (left) and Chad flag
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In 2004, former Romanian president Ion Iliescu had said that “the tricolour belongs to us, we will not give it up” after years of scuffle with Chad about the similarity in their flags. Both flags have the same blue, yellow and red vertical stripes. Iliescu made the statement after Chad asked the United Nations to step in .
Belgium and Germany
Belgium (left) and Germany flag While preparing for the arrival of the king and queen of Belgium, Canadian officials decorated Rideau Hall with Belgian and Canadian flags. The only goof up was they used Germany’s flag instead. Though the flags do share the same colours, the major difference is that Belgium’s stripes are vertical while Germany’s are horizontal.
Ireland and Ivory Coast Ireland (L) and Ivory Coast flag
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During the IAAF World Indoor Championships in March, Ivory Coast’s sprinter Murielle Ahoure was probably thankful that her country’s flag was so similar to that of Ireland’s. Since the organisers forgot to place an Ivory Coast flag at the finish line, the gold medallist simply picked up Ireland’s flag and turned it upside down.
Indonesia and Poland Indonesia (left) and Poland flag
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In an embarrassing incident that highlighted the similarities between the flag of Poland and Indonesia, organisers of the Southeast Asian Games in Malaysia printed Indonesia’s flag — which has a red banner on top and white banner belowupside down in a souvenir book. This gaffe made the flag look like that of Poland’s.
Every Time Countries Got Their Flags Wrong At International Sports Events
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At the recent IAAF World Indoor Championships, Ivory Coast sprinter Murielle Ahouré (in pic) made do with the Irish tricolour upside down in the absence of her home country’s flag.
A look at other such controversies in sports.
At the recent IAAF World Indoor Championships, Ivory Coast sprinter Murielle Ahouré (in pic) made do with the Irish tricolour upside down in the absence of her home country’s flag.
A look at other s..
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Even before the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games began, India hit the headlines. An official video — ‘Let the Games Begin’— was used to welcome the 215-strong Indian contingent and it featured the Indian tricolour upside down. The song was also the Glasgow Children’s 2014 anthem for UNICEF. This created quite a stir within the athletes there and people back home.
Even before the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games began, India hit the headlines. An official video — ‘Let the Games Begin’— was used to welcome the 215-strong Indian contingent and it featured the Ind..
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State-sponsored doping by Russia led to the country being banned from the recently-concluded Winter Games in Pyeongchang. This meant Russian athletes, though allowed to participate, had to partake in the Games under a neutral flag. However, international sporting events and national pride can’t be kept apart for long. Russian figure skater Evgenia Medvedeva, who won a silver medal, revealed how her countrymen and women hid their national flag under a white scarf buttoned to their jackets.
(Image: AFP & AP)
State-sponsored doping by Russia led to the country being banned from the recently-concluded Winter Games in Pyeongchang. This meant Russian athletes, though allowed to participate, had to partake in..
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Last year’s Southeast Asian Games in Malaysia saw a huge faux pas as Indonesia’s flag was printed wrong in a souvenir guidebook. In the booklet, which was given out to fans and VIPs at the event, the country’s flag printed upside down. The original flag, which has a red top and white bottom banner, looked like Poland’s flag (which is the exact opposite — white on top and red at the bottom) due to this goof-up and caused a major embarrassment to the host country.
Last year’s Southeast Asian Games in Malaysia saw a huge faux pas as Indonesia’s flag was printed wrong in a souvenir guidebook. In the booklet, which was given out to fans and VIPs at the event, the..
Read More
When the 2010 World Cup champion Spain unveiled its jersey for the upcoming World Cup in Russia, it featured an additional purple strip instead of just the red and gold colours of the country’s flag. The extra purple banner is represented in Spain’s second republic flag which dates back to the 1930s. It was a symbol against monarchy. The resurgence of this flag colour divided fans and politicans alike as it is still used by a section of Spanish nationals who stand against the monarchy.
(Image: Twitter/@Pablo_Iglesias_)
When the 2010 World Cup champion Spain unveiled its jersey for the upcoming World Cup in Russia, it featured an additional purple strip instead of just the red and gold colours of the country’s flag...
