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Quebec cabinet minister says Olympics no place for 'battle of rags'

Article online since August 11st 2008, 23:00
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QUEBEC - The provincial sports minister says the Beijing Olympics should not be the scene of a "battle of rags" despite what the Parti Quebecois wants.

Michelle Courchesne was reacting to complaints by PQ Leader Pauline Marois that Quebec athletes at the Summer Games can only wave the flag of the country they're representing - Canada - and not the provincial Fleur-de-lis.

But Courchesne had to issue a statement later in the day, saying she did not mean to suggest the Quebec flag was a rag.

Courchesne was speaking at a news conference on another matter when the flag flap arose.

"I am very disappointed in the Parti Quebecois, which instead of encouraging (Quebec athletes), wants to politicize the games and provoke a battle of the rags, a battle of the flags," Courchesne said.

Courchesne recalled controversial comments by Bernard Landry, the PQ premier who sparked an uproar in 2001 when he seemed to compare the Maple Leaf flag to a "red rag."

She noted that Landry had apologized.

Marois was quick to respond and said she was "outraged" to hear that Courchesne had described the Quebec flag as "a rag."

Courchesne later acknowledged she had committed a "lapse."

Last week in an interview with The Canadian Press, Marois had said it is unacceptable that Olympic organizers only allow flags from the 205 competing countries at the games.

She said that Premier Jean Charest should protest that Quebec athletes can't wave the Quebec flag.

Courchesne said the PQ has a talent for politicizing what should be happy events and cited the recent Quebec City concert by rock icon Paul McCartney as an example.

Some members of the PQ agreed with an open letter that said the appearance by the British rocker invoked painful memories of the British conquest of the French in 1759.

"Why do they always have this little bit of bitterness to spoil the party?" said Courchesne, who is preparing to leave for Beijing to encourage Quebec's 68 athletes "even if they do not win medals."

Courchesne said Quebec's athletes should not be distracted by the political quarrels and added that, unlike Marois, Quebecers are encouraging their home-grown Olympians.

"Everyone in Quebec who watches TV should send their strength and energy to these athletes so they can go after their dreams," she said.

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