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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Minister stakes shirt on Olympics | Minister stakes shirt on Olympics |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Minister Gerry Sutcliffe has bet his shirt on one of the fiercest rivalries in world sport: Britain v Australia. | Minister Gerry Sutcliffe has bet his shirt on one of the fiercest rivalries in world sport: Britain v Australia. |
| The sports minister promised to wear the Old Enemy's green and gold if Team GB is beaten in the Beijing Olympic medals table. | The sports minister promised to wear the Old Enemy's green and gold if Team GB is beaten in the Beijing Olympic medals table. |
| Meanwhile, his Australian counterpart is offering to don red, white and blue if Britain does better. | Meanwhile, his Australian counterpart is offering to don red, white and blue if Britain does better. |
| In 2004 Australia won 49 medals and GB 30. A government spokesman said: "Green is not really Gerry's colour." | |
| 'Choke' | 'Choke' |
| The Olympic rivalry was stoked when Culture Secretary Andy Burnham predicted Great Britain could overtake Australia in Beijing. | The Olympic rivalry was stoked when Culture Secretary Andy Burnham predicted Great Britain could overtake Australia in Beijing. |
| Australian sports minister Kate Ellis retorted by saying British athletes might "choke" under the pressure of competing at the highest level | Australian sports minister Kate Ellis retorted by saying British athletes might "choke" under the pressure of competing at the highest level |
| Australia have had wonderful times, but I suspect we are on the up and they are about to decline gracefully Graham Sharpe, William Hill | Australia have had wonderful times, but I suspect we are on the up and they are about to decline gracefully Graham Sharpe, William Hill |
| She followed up the claim with a sartorial wager. | She followed up the claim with a sartorial wager. |
| Mr Sutcliffe told the BBC: "Kate Ellis has challenged me that, if Australia win more medals, then I would have to wear their shirt at a UK event, and if we won more medals she would do similar in Australia." | Mr Sutcliffe told the BBC: "Kate Ellis has challenged me that, if Australia win more medals, then I would have to wear their shirt at a UK event, and if we won more medals she would do similar in Australia." |
| A Department for Culture, Media and Sports spokesman said: "There has been a great sporting rivalry with Australia and that will continue in Beijing. | |
| "It's good to see that Kate Ellis is showing the courage of her convictions by having a bet with Gerry. | |
| "We hope that it is her donning a British top in Australia after the games rather than vice versa." | |
| Australia and Britain have a sporting rivalry going back further than the modern Olympic Games - founded in 1896 - themselves. | Australia and Britain have a sporting rivalry going back further than the modern Olympic Games - founded in 1896 - themselves. |
| Rugby union | Rugby union |
| Most famously, cricket's Ashes have been competed over since 1882, with England - including Wales's Simon Jones - winning in 2005. | Most famously, cricket's Ashes have been competed over since 1882, with England - including Wales's Simon Jones - winning in 2005. |
| The trophy was snatched back with a series whitewash in 2006/07. | The trophy was snatched back with a series whitewash in 2006/07. |
| In rugby union, England have knocked Australia out of the last two world cups. | In rugby union, England have knocked Australia out of the last two world cups. |
| However, in rugby league, of which Mr Sutcliffe is a devoted fan, Australia currently reign supreme - having beaten Great Britain in the last Ashes series. | However, in rugby league, of which Mr Sutcliffe is a devoted fan, Australia currently reign supreme - having beaten Great Britain in the last Ashes series. |
| In the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Australia's 49 medals, including 17 golds, put it fourth on the overall table. Great Britain's 30 medals, including nine golds, put it 10th. | |
| Bookmaker William Hill has Australia at 1/2 to maintain superiority in Beijing, with Team GB on 13/8. Punters can get 14/1 for a tie. | Bookmaker William Hill has Australia at 1/2 to maintain superiority in Beijing, with Team GB on 13/8. Punters can get 14/1 for a tie. |
| William Hill's media relations director, Graham Sharpe, said: "Australia are expected to struggle to keep up their medals tally. Britain's most optimistic outcome is about 41 medals. | William Hill's media relations director, Graham Sharpe, said: "Australia are expected to struggle to keep up their medals tally. Britain's most optimistic outcome is about 41 medals. |
| "If the Aussies are not quite up to their best they might be overtaken. They have had wonderful times, but I suspect we are on the up and they are about to decline gracefully. | "If the Aussies are not quite up to their best they might be overtaken. They have had wonderful times, but I suspect we are on the up and they are about to decline gracefully. |
| "Mr Sutcliffe is still an outside bet not to lose his shirt, though. I don't suppose anyone will mind seeing a politician with egg on his face if that happens." | "Mr Sutcliffe is still an outside bet not to lose his shirt, though. I don't suppose anyone will mind seeing a politician with egg on his face if that happens." |
| More than 200 countries are taking part in the Beijing games. | More than 200 countries are taking part in the Beijing games. |