A number of British athletes have expressed dismay over the absence of a Union Jack flag on their kits for this month's World Championships in Beijing.

The design for Great Britain's kits at the London 2012 Olympics incorporated the Union flag, but the new design does not, being mainly blue with a large white V at the top of the vest's front.

It features logos for kit manufacturer Nike and British Athletics, but not the British flag.

Britain's Olympic long-jump champion Greg Rutherford led the backlash, tweeting a picture of his vest alongside the words: "Well this isn't right ... Where's the Union Jack!?!?"

He added: "A hasten to add (sic) I'm yet to find an athlete who wanted the change (from the 2012 kit). EVERY athlete I've spoken to wants the Union flag."

Kelly Holmes, a double Olympic champion in the 2004 Athens games, tweeted: "Totally agree. The Union Jack is iconic."

Other British athletes to voice their disapproval included multiple Paralympic champion David Weir, steeplechaser Eilish McColgan and Paralympic shot-putter Sam Ruddock.

British Athletics has not responded directly to Rutherford, but it did retweet an Instagram post from hurdler Cindy Ofili, who wrote: "Excited to have finally received my first full British Kit!! Thanks @britathletics".
Source: AFP