An Irish Lacrosse team who qualified to represent their
country in the international Lacrosse World Games have withdrawn from the
competition to allow a team from a different country to have their place.
The Iroquois Nationals are a Native American Lacrosse team and
they were told they were not allowed to compete in the World Games because they
were not a Sovereign Nation and did not have an Olympic committee.
A Sovereign nation is defined as one which has a permanent
population, defined territory and one government.
Native Americans invented Lacrosse and the game is a sacred
sport for them. Lacrosse teams across the world stood in solidarity with the
team and eventually the Olympic committee agreed they could take part. But the qualification
rounds had already taken place and there was no room for them, so the Irish
team gave them their place.
The Chief Executive of Ireland Lacrosse said it was, “simply
the right thing to do.” The team released a statement which ended with “I
dteanna a cheile – together as one”. When the Iroquois Nationals responded to
say thank you, they also ended their statement with the same words and
language. The Iroquois have changed their team colours from yellow and purple
to green white and gold – the Irish colours.
-
What is Lacrosse?
-
Why don’t the Native American team fit in to the
“Sovereign nation” criteria?
-
“simply the right thing to do”- why?
-
How do you think the Iroquois Nationals felt
when they heard the news?
-
What does ‘together as one’ mean? Why did the Native
American team use Gaelic language in their response?
-
Why have the Iroquois Nationals changed their
team colours?
-
When the Iroquois Nationals play, who will be
supporting them?
-
What can we learn from the Irish Lacrosse team?
-
Why is this about No Outsiders?
No comments:
Post a Comment