‘No’ vote in Scottish referendum eases Olympic concerns

There were obviously more important issues at stake in Scotland’s independence referendum, but the “no” vote has erased significant concerns among Olympic officials.

Historically, Scottish athletes have competed under the British flag. Had the country decided to split from the United Kingdom, it would have faced numerous obstacles in qualifying for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.

Officials would have needed to establish a National Olympic Committee within a few months’ time. Funding for a new team might also have been a challenge.

Britain also would have lost out -- its greatest athletes include Edinburgh native Chris Hoy, who won six gold medals in cycling.

Sir Craig Reedie, an International Olympic Committee vice president and former chairman of the British Olympic Assn., told insidethegames.biz: “The debate has been resolved and any uncertainty over Olympic sport in Britain has now been removed.”