UK or GB?

[Keith_M]

Does anybody know why we have, as the country designation, UK on our Passports and Driving Licences but GB on Vehicle Number Plates?

I was asked this by a German Colleague and I honestly have no idea.



As an aside, I wish they would officially change the name of the country to something a bit simpler and more straightforward, like 'Britain' (although we wouldn't be able to use either B or BR on Passports/Number Plates, as they're already taken)

[Colr]

Does anybody know why we have, as the country designation, UK on our Passports and Driving Licences but GB on Vehicle Number Plates?

I was asked this by a German Colleague and I honestly have no idea.



As an aside, I wish they would officially change the name of the country to something a bit simpler and more straightforward, like 'Britain' (although we wouldn't be able to use either B or BR on Passports/Number Plates, as they're already taken)

GBR on currency converters but UK on addresses. Prefer UK myself.

[Keith_M]

GBR on currency converters but UK on addresses. Prefer UK myself.


Col, I've always thought thought that, when you pronounced the letters 'UK', it sounds like it should be written 'YUK'.



I promise that has nothing to do with any political views, just an observation ;-)

[liamh2202]

Does anybody know why we have, as the country designation, UK on our Passports and Driving Licences but GB on Vehicle Number Plates?

I was asked this by a German Colleague and I honestly have no idea.



As an aside, I wish they would officially change the name of the country to something a bit simpler and more straightforward, like 'Britain' (although we wouldn't be able to use either B or BR on Passports/Number Plates, as they're already taken)

The passport agency is part of the united kingdom (including n.i) the dvla is only for great Britain ( n.I has their own numberplate setup) I think

[Geo_1875]

Great Britain is part of the United Kingdom.

[liamh2202]

Great Britain is part of the United Kingdom.

Yes but is it not right that GB down not include northern Ireland but the united kingdom does ?

[Keith_M]

The passport agency is part of the united kingdom (including n.i) the dvla is only for great Britain ( n.I has their own numberplate setup) I think


That would kinda make sense.

It's still a bit strange that we can't have the same letter(s) for each, like almost* every other country.





* I don't actually know any other country that does it like UK/GB but decided to hedge my bets ;-)

[s.a.m]

Yes but is it not right that GB down not include northern Ireland but the united kingdom does ?


:agree: Great Britain is the name of the island that we are on; It's the bigger one in the 'British Isles' group of islands.

[TRC]

Is the uk not what it says the uniting of kingdoms and gb is the actual term from the country?

[Hibrandenburg]

UK is a political entity and GB a geographical one. Scotland, England and Wales are situated on the largest of the British Isles called Great Britain and Ireland is the second largest of the British Isles. Northern Ireland has its own DVLC therefore our car stickers and driving licence have GB.

[Greentinted]

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland consists of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Taken from the WHO website (of all things) but fair's fair it does a fairly decent succinct definition.

http://www.euro.who.int/en/countries/united-kingdom-of-great-britain-and-northern-ireland

[Keith_M]

UK is a political entity and GB a geographical one. Scotland, England and Wales are situated on the largest of the British Isles called Great Britain and Ireland is the second largest of the British Isles. Northern Ireland has its own DVLC therefore our car stickers and driving licence have GB.


Cheers, good summary.


I just don't understand why we can't have just have one code for everything, like a normal country.

[(((Fergus)))]

GB is the official code for all parts of the UK: http://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/trans/conventn/Distsigns.pdf

[Hibbyradge]

Cheers, good summary.


I just don't understand why we can't have just have one code for everything, like a normal country.

We are a normal country!

[Keith_M]

We are a normal country!


That's your opinion.



:wink:

[Bristolhibby]

Cheers, good summary.


I just don't understand why we can't have just have one code for everything, like a normal country.

Because it's not that straight forward.

Here's one to bake your noodle.

Why do athletes from Northern Ireland compete for Great Britain (Team GB)?

They are not from Great Britian. Why do we not compete as Team UK in the Olympics?

J

[Bristolhibby]

This is a really good video.

http://youtu.be/rNu8XDBSn10

J

[Scouse Hibee]

Because it's not that straight forward.

Here's one to bake your noodle.

Why do athletes from Northern Ireland compete for Great Britain (Team GB)?

They are not from Great Britian. Why do we not compete as Team UK in the Olympics?

J

They don't, the team is referred to as GB & NI is it not.

[Bristolhibby]

They don't, the team is referred to as GB & NI is it not.

Looks Team GB to me. Although it's official name is "Team Great Britain and Northern Ireland"

Team GBNI doesn't seem to have the same ring to it.

I guess it's a bit like the England Cricket Team. It's actually the England and Wales cricket team.

J

[Sir David Gray]

Because it's not that straight forward.

Here's one to bake your noodle.

Why do athletes from Northern Ireland compete for Great Britain (Team GB)?

They are not from Great Britian. Why do we not compete as Team UK in the Olympics?

J


They don't, the team is referred to as GB & NI is it not.

It's branded as Team GB, no-one refers to it as Team GB & NI.

Not only does calling the team after Great Britain leave out Northern Ireland, it also excludes other areas, which also make up Team GB, such as the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey.

Although athletes from Northern Ireland are a bit different in that they are able to choose between representing GB or the Republic of Ireland at the Olympic Games.

[Scouse Hibee]

It's branded as Team GB, no-one refers to it as Team GB & NI.

Not only does calling the team after Great Britain leave out Northern Ireland, it also excludes other areas, which also make up Team GB, such as the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey.

Although athletes from Northern Ireland are a bit different in that they are able to choose between representing GB or the Republic of Ireland at the Olympic Games.

I disagree, I have heard many a commentator refer to it as GB & NI which is how I know wsuch.what it is called. So people are making an issue that isn't there.

[PeeJay]

I disagree, I have heard many a commentator refer to it as GB & NI which is how I know wsuch.what it is called. So people are making an issue that isn't there.

The "official" BOA site clearly refers to it as "Team GB" which, if I'm not mistaken, is a horrible "Americanism" anyway - NI does get a few mentions on the site to be fair, as if they remember every so often ...

http://www.teamgb.com/

[Keith_M]

The "official" BOA site clearly refers to it as "Team GB" which, if I'm not mistaken, is a horrible "Americanism" anyway - NI does get a few mentions on the site to be fair, as if they remember every so often ...

http://www.teamgb.com/



You see, this illustrates my point perfectly.

Why is it not just called Team UK?

[Keith_M]

Oh and the UK is the Political Entity and Great Britain is the Island argument still doesn't seem to have got through to our sporting bodies




15004

[WeeRussell]

I never refer to myself as being from either, and hopefully one day soon neither will my passport. :greengrin

But that's for another argument!

[Newry Hibs]

It's branded as Team GB, no-one refers to it as Team GB & NI.

Not only does calling the team after Great Britain leave out Northern Ireland, it also excludes other areas, which also make up Team GB, such as the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey.

Although athletes from Northern Ireland are a bit different in that they are able to choose between representing GB or the Republic of Ireland at the Olympic Games.

One reason I heard for 'Team GB' is that it sounded better than 'Team UK'.

Anyone from Northern Ireland can get a Republic passport. Indeed one Rangers fan I know got one. Specifically because 'when you and me are captured by Islamic terrorists, you're getting 'it' (as a UK passport holder) rather than me (the cuddly neutral Irishman)'.

[Keith_M]

One reason I heard for 'Team GB' is that it sounded better than 'Team UK'.

Anyone from Northern Ireland can get a Republic passport. Indeed one Rangers fan I know got one. Specifically because 'when you and me are captured by Islamic terrorists, you're getting 'it' (as a UK passport holder) rather than me (the cuddly neutral Irishman)'.


Wouldn't it be funny if you and him were actually captured by Loyalist Terrorists, who then demanded to see your Passports...........

[Sir David Gray]

One reason I heard for 'Team GB' is that it sounded better than 'Team UK'.

Anyone from Northern Ireland can get a Republic passport. Indeed one Rangers fan I know got one. Specifically because 'when you and me are captured by Islamic terrorists, you're getting 'it' (as a UK passport holder) rather than me (the cuddly neutral Irishman)'.

I can't imagine there's too many Sevco fans who would admit to holding a Republic of Ireland passport!

[Newry Hibs]

I can't imagine there's too many Sevco fans who would admit to holding a Republic of Ireland passport!

Not sure if he openly admits it!! But he is also married to 'one of them', so has a different outlook on life over here.

Also he's not exactly rabid about them and prefers Man City.