Britain’s sports stars at the service of war propaganda

 
 
Britain’s sports stars at the service of war propaganda
 
 
 
[propaganda alert]
 
compiled by Cem Ertür
 
11 November 2011
 
 
 
 
  
 
2011 Poppy Appeal poster features British tennis star Andy Murray
 
(The Poppy Appeal is the Royal British Legion’s annual fundraising campaign for the British Armed Forces and their families.)
 
 
 
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from the archives:
 
 
 
 
The Scotsman, 24 June 2011
 
“ [British tennis star] Andy Murray took time out from his Wimbledon [Championships] schedule yesterday to support UK Armed Forces Day.”
 
 
 
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Daily Mail, 22 May 2010
 
(David Beckham is being shown the mounted heavy machine gun on an Army Lynx helicopter, UK Army’s Camp Bastion base, Helmand Province, Afghanistan)
 
 
 
 
 
"I have nothing but admiration for these young men and women and it makes me very proud to be British. I've wanted to visit Afghanistan for a long time and I hope that in some small way it helps remind everyone at home what an amazing job they are doing out here in very difficult conditions. I feel very humble."
    
[British football star David Beckham’s remarks prior to his departure to Afghanistan, May 2010]  (*)
 
 
 
 
 
(*)  David Beckham flies to Afghanistan
 
by Richard Edwards, Daily Telegraph, 22 May 2010
 
 
 
 
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A British soldier receives his award from England national football team manager Fabio Capello and football star Rio Ferdinand, The Sun Military Awards ceremony, The Imperial War Museum, London, 15 December 2009

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The [British] Army is urging the public to show its support for soldiers through a TV campaign and website that showcase the contribution they make to society and the positive effect of military intervention globally. [...] The [army recruitment] campaign coincides with the fifth anniversary of the US-led invasion of Iraq [in 2003] [1]
 
“To the Best” campaign [is] supported by such celebrities as Jonny Wilkinson, the England rugby player. It is the [British] army's first interactive recruitment campaign, with the public encouraged to show their support for British troops on a website. It includes short videos of civilians in Iraq, Kosovo, Bosnia, and the UK, who praise British soldiers for their help and, in some cases, for saving lives.  [2]
 
 
  
[1] Army campaign drives public to web to show soldiers support
 
by Gemma Charles, Marketing, 18 March 2008
 
 
 
 
[2] Army launches recruitment drive as polls highlight soldiers' popularity
 
by Richard Norton-Taylor, The Guardian, 18 March 2008
 
 
 
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related news:
 
 
 
David Cameron blasts 'outrageous' FIFA for 'absurd' poppy ban on England team
 
London Evening Standard, 9 November 2011
 
 
 
 
 
Premier stiker in 9/11 probe
 
by Jerry Lawton, Daily Star, 15 September 2011
 
 
 
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