Representation of Northern Ireland at the 2026 Commonwealth Games

That this House expresses concern at reports that the Ulster Banner, the flag traditionally used to represent Northern Ireland at the Commonwealth Games, may be discontinued ahead of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games; recognises that for many decades the Ulster Banner has been carried with pride by Northern Irish athletes and supporters alike and has accompanied numerous memorable sporting achievements on the international stage; acknowledges that the continued use of the Ulster Banner in sport has provided a rallying point for athletes and communities through shared competition and sporting excellence; notes that the Ulster Banner, despite no longer having formal governmental status, has an established and longstanding role within the Commonwealth sporting tradition; further expresses concern that replacing it with an alternative emblem without widespread consultation risks politicising sport and placing athletes at the centre of constitutional debate; believes that sport should transcend politics, promote unity and allow competitors to focus fully on performance; calls on the Commonwealth Games Federation to retain the Ulster Banner as the flag under which Northern Ireland has historically competed, and to ensure that any proposed changes to long-standing symbols are undertaken only following comprehensive consultation with athletes, sporting bodies and the wider community; and affirms that the Commonwealth Games should remain a celebration of sporting achievement free from unnecessary political controversy.