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South Korea being introduced as North Korea at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony wasn’t the only gaffe in Summer Games history. read more
 "Other Olympic gaffes")
Athletes of South Korea travel by boat along the Seine river during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, in Paris. AP
The Paris Olympics opening ceremony was held on river Seine in the heart of the French capital on Friday. Stepping away from tradition of the ceremonies being held in stadiums, it was the first outdoor event to mark the beginning of the Summer Games.
Paris Olympics: News, schedule, medals tally and more
There were a few hiccups that the organisers had not envisioned: an attack on the railway system followed by rain, which resulted in some elements being dropped. There was a gaffe, however, that could have been avoided: South Korea were introduced as North Korea during the parade.
The incident occurred when the boat carrying the South Korean team sailed down the river, only to be introduced as “Republique populaire democratique de Coree” (the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea - North Korea’s official name.
When North Korea’s team arrived later on, they were correctly introduced by their official name.
The South Korean sports ministry said they would file a “strong complaint” with the French government, expressing “regret over the announcement… where the South Korean delegation was introduced as the North Korean team.”
The International Olympic Committee later apologised for the mistake.
Other Olympic gaffes
Incorrect South Sudan anthem at basketball
🇸🇸 A new embarrassment at the Olympics!
Instead of the South Sudan’s anthem, the Sudanese anthem was played! The the audience instantly noticed it.
Reminder, at the opening ceremony of the Games, we recall, South Korean athletes were announced as the DPRK team. pic.twitter.com/QzEbawdkwM
South Sudan’s opening Olympic basketball match at Paris 2024 was overshadowed by an embarrassing anthem blunder by organisers.
The African nation’s basketball team looked distraught after the wrong anthem was played as they lined up before their clash with Puerto Rico.
The fans at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Villeneuve-d’Ascq jeered after the blunder.
The mistake was swiftly rectified and the correct anthem was played, with Puerto Rico’s players and supporters applauding in unison.
“We present our most sincere apologies to the South Sudan team and their supporters,” organisers told AFP.
“We were able to quickly interrupt the anthem which was broadcast in error and play the correct anthem before the start of the game.”
Upside down Olympic flag
The introduction mishap wasn’t the only mistake at the opening ceremony. The Olympic flag was flown upside down, in an unusual 2-3 ring formation instead of the standard 3-2. No formal apology has been made. The flag was hoisted at the Trocadéro, across from the Eiffel Tower.
Cauldron malfunction
At the opening ceremony of the Vancouver Winter Olympics in 2010, one of the four cauldrons malfunctioned. The technical error meant that only three cauldrons rose, while athlete Catriona LeMay Doan was left awkwardly standing with a flaming torch, unable to complete the ritual.
Lip syncing on anthem
Beijing 2008 opening ceremony sparked a controversy when it was revealed that nine-year-old Lin Miaoke, who appeared to be singing the national anthem, was actually lip-syncing to the voice of 7-year-old Yang Peiyi.
Organisers had chosen Yang, who won a national contest, to sing the anthem. However, they had later deemed her unsuitable for the spotlight due to her ’less-than-perfect teeth'.
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English (US) ·