Bwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! Jamaican Flag Wins it all in the World Cup of Flags 2020 Competition

[malaise]

https://jamaicans.com/jamaican-flag-wins-it-all-in-the-world-cup-of-flags-2020-competition/
<snip>
The Jamaican flag emerged as the winner of the World Cup of Flags 2020 event, competing against flags from around the globe. The competition was conducted on Twitter, with 64 elimination rounds and voting taking place over six weeks.

What began as a game on Twitter by Election Maps UK to alleviate the boredom of stay-at-home orders during the COVID-19 pandemic, the contest generated worldwide interest and participation. While no prizes were awarded, Jamaica earned bragging rights. A total of 192 flags were entered and Barbados came in third, for two Caribbean countries in the Top 3.

The competition was a nail-biter, coming down to Jamaica and South Africa in the final rounds of voting, with Jamaica earning 50.7 percent of the votes and South Africa receiving 49.3 percent. A total of 298,000 people voted in the online Twitter poll. The turnout was significant – South Africa has a population of 59,220,538 and Jamaica’s is estimated at 2,959,659.

The Jamaican flag was adopted on Aug. 6, 1962 and marked the country’s Jamaican Independence Day. It’s the only national flag that doesn’t incorporate the colors red, white, or blue and is the result of a design submitted by the public during a national competition. The tri-color flag of Jamaica symbolizes:

Black – strength and creativity of the people
Green – hope and the country’s lush vegetation
Gold – wealth of the country and golden sunshine

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Congratulations, I guess.

I had no idea there was a world flag competition. I kind of like Mexico's because it has a snake on it, and Wales, which technically isn't a country, has a dragon. But it's true that red, white and blue have been done to death.

[malaise]

3. That's why I'm laughing

Didn't even know there was a competition

[Danmel]

12. Bhutan has a dragon too

Jamaica is the only country in the world whose flag has no red, white or blue

[Celerity]

19. yes, and there were 2, Mauritania also, until 2017

now it is

[The Magistrate]

2. Is Marcus Garvey Still On The Paper Money, Ma'am?

That was something to see when I was there briefly during my 'adventurous youth'....

[malaise]

5. You know they stopped printing that 50c paper note

ages ago.

[The Magistrate]

6. I Did Not, Ma'am

You can guess then to a minimum how long ago my visit was. I had forgotten the denomination, but recalled it was low, and so often encountered.

[malaise]

7. The lowest paper dollar value is now $50

Yes indeed Sir

[The Magistrate]

9. That Is Sad, Ma'am

Hope that buys what the old fifty cent note would, at least. I confess to not having kept up much on matters Caribbean.

[spanone]

4. Go Jamaica!!!!!!

[Laelth]

8. Our flag is comparatively ugly, I admit.

We used the mother country’s colors—red, white, and blue, and these colors make for a drastic and disconcerting contrast, but our flag expresses the nature of our republic in much the same way that the flag of the Roman Republic (SPQR in gold on a red field) expressed the nature of the Roman Republic (Senatorum Popularum Que Romanum—the Senate and the People of Rome).

Our flag announces our history as being 13 independent nations that joined together and then reminds the world that there are 50 of us now. It says who we are, even if it’s ugly.

-Laelth

[CaptYossarian]

10. Coming soon to ESPN.

How was the talent competition?

[leftieNanner]

11. Is this another episode of

Amy and Sheldon's show Fun With Flags?

[JHB]

13. I have to say, personally, what I like best about the Jamaican flag is waving it...

...in the face of persons who are a bit too **ahem** attached to the "rebel" flag pattered after the battle flag of the Army of Northern Virginia (also known as "great-great granddad's cannon targets." "X" marks the spot. BOOM!).

"Of all possible symbols of 'Southern heritage', you have to pick that one? You can't do something different with it that includes everybody? I mean, there's nothing inherently racist about a Saint Andrew's cross, just ask the Jamaicans."


So, cheers to the winner:



And the runner up, South Africa:

[malaise]

14. You made me think about that

RSA also has a lovely flag

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

15. And then there are the flags of the Scandinavian countries

which all have exactly the same pattern and various combinations of red, white, and/or blue, except Sweden and Åland had to be a little different and throw in some yellow.



Finland turned Sweden inside out and took away the yellow:



Denmark stuck with basic red and white:



Norway took Denmark's flag and threw in a blue stripe:



Iceland turned Norway's flag inside out:



The Faroe Islands scrambled Iceland's flag:



And then there's the autonomous Finnish province of Åland:



None of them will ever win the flag competition.

[malaise]

20. You have me howling with laughter

Don't ask me why

[Celerity]

21. None of them will ever win the flag competition.

[treestar]

16. It is rather awesome!

I love the colors! A fun idea to alleviate the boredom of shut in!

[Laelth]

17. I still find this flag to be the most powerful and beautiful in the world.

England, Scotland, and Ireland as one—The Union Jack.

-Laelth

[MontanaMama]

18. My neighbor flies the flag of Jamaica

proudly in his front yard. Makes me smile every time I see it.

[Blue Owl]

22. I will put on some reggae in your honor!

[Buzz cook]

23. So is there a national anthem contest.