Defiant athletes fly boxing kangaroo

5 Feb 2010, 5:15 pm   -   Source: AAP
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A boxing kangaroo flag still flies at the Winter Olympics athletes' village, with the defiant Aussie team ignoring an official request to remove it.

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A green and gold boxing kangaroo flag still flies proudly at the Winter Olympics athletes' village, with the defiant Australian team ignoring an official request to remove it.

The International Olympic Committee has ordered the Australian Olympic Committee to take down the giant flag draped over a balcony in the village because it is too commercial and is a registered trademark.

But on Friday, the giant flag, which shows a red-gloved golden kangaroo, was still on display in the village ahead of the Games in Vancouver.

"They asked us to take it down a few days ago and so far we've ignored that request," AOC spokesman Mike Tancred told AAP.

Mr Tancred earlier told ABC Radio it was traditional for Australian Olympic teams to fly the flag at every Games.

"We put up a flag on the front of the accommodation section of the village where our athletes will be living.

"We all do it, we do it every Games."

The IOC's request to remove the flag has drawn criticism from the nation's leaders back home.

Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard said the move was "ridiculous".

"It's a scandal," Ms Gillard told the Nine Network.

"I think we want to see a lot of the boxing kangaroo, particularly now that we've had this ridiculous ruling.

"So, yes, boxing kangaroos everywhere."

Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said he liked to see Australian symbols being displayed.

"I think Australians are proud of their country and like to wear its colours and show its symbols, and so I'm disappointed by any move to make that harder," Mr Abbott told reporters in Sydney.

"I'm not going to give our athletes instructions ... but I think they have flown that boxing kangaroo in a spirit of exuberance and I like to see exuberant, confident, vigorous athletes."

The flag is a registered trademark because it is used by the Australian Olympic Committee to promote sport and fair play to school children.

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