Despite the old cliche about keeping politics out of sport, the fierce competition culminating in three flags being hoisted up their respective poles has sparked discussion amongst many observers about the nexus between athletic endeavour and national identity.

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If all landers make it to the surface of Mars, they will represent three more flags on a largely unexplored map.

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The medals were handed out before the three turned towards the flags and the start of the Star Spangled Banner.

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Driving up out of the wadi, we had to wait for a convoy of three armored personnel carriers, with Australian flags, to pass.

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Carrying flags and posters of the three dead women, they followed the coffins across frozen ground to a community centre where they were put on display.

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On Saturday, the Bahrain state-run news agency announced three days of mourning in that country and ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff there and at its embassies abroad.

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Three hours after they moved in, police hoisted the flags of Brazil and Rio to show the authorities were now in control of the neighbourhoods, after decades of domination by drugs gangs.

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Already flags and photographs of the Japanese national team, who will play three of their four matches in Townsville, can be seen dotted around the town.

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