Brexit campaigners have claimed Britain’s gold medal haul at the Rio Olympics proves the country can thrive outside the European Union, prompting criticism from victorious Team GB athletes.
By the end of day 11 in Rio, Britain had won 50 medals, including 19 golds.
In a video released on Twitter on Wednesday, Leave.EU, the Brexit campaign backed by the businessman Arron Banks, used footage of a string of medal winners, including Andy Murray and Sir Bradley Wiggins, with the slogan: “We may be small, but we truly are Great Britain!”
A fantastic effort so far by @TeamGB! We may be small, but we truly are Great Britain! #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/QuhFiD3i32
— LEAVE.EU (@LeaveEUOfficial) August 15, 2016
In a message that also used the Team GB logo, Leave.EU suggested the country’s better-than-expected performance, which has pushed Britain to second place in the medals table behind the US, should scotch the idea that “we’re too small” and could not survive outside the EU.
Callum Skinner, the medal-winning cyclist, responded: “Thanks [for] the support but I wish you wouldn’t use my image to promote your campaign”, in a tweet that included the EU flag.
@LeaveEUOfficial @TeamGB thanks the the support 😊 but I wish you wouldn't use my image to promote your campaign. 🇪🇺🇬🇧
— Callum Skinner (@CallumSkinner) August 16, 2016
Campaigners for Britain to leave the EU repeatedly accused the remain camp of “talking down Britain”, and indulging in a “Project Fear” strategy, when they warned that the economy might be hit by Brexit.
Almost two months on from the referendum result, when voters unexpectedly chose to leave the EU by 52% to 48%, Theresa May’s government has given little idea of what kind of deal it hopes to strike with the 27 member states.
But sport, which is largely domestically funded, is not among those areas deemed most likely to be affected. The Treasury has pledged to make good any shortfall in EU funding in areas including agriculture and science until 2020.
Sir John Major’s decision to divert national lottery funding towards sport is credited with sowing the seeds for the string of medals won in Rio.
