The South Korean athletes were introduced as North Korea during the opening ceremony in Paris on Friday evening, with organizers issuing a ‘deep apology’
Olympic organisers have issuen an apology after athletes from South Korea were mistakenly introduced as North Koreans at the opening ceremony in Paris.
Despite the adverse weather conditions, athletes from every participating country took part in a spectacular ceremony as they floated down the River Seine this Friday. However, there was a huge error when it came to the South Korean team.
The gaffe occurred as athletes waved their flags to the crowd and were incorrectly announced, both in French and English, as the ‘Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’, which is the official name for North Korea. This term was then used once again for the North Korea delegation moments later, in the correct context.
Following these events, the South Korean sports ministry has vowed to raise a ‘strong complaint’ to the French government about the blunder. It’s also reported that former weightlifting champ Jang Mi-ran, currently involved in the Olympic set-up, is demanding a meeting with IOC president Thomas Bach.
“We express regret that the country was introduced as North Korea at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games when the athletes of the Republic of Korea were entering,” read a statement.
The two nations remain divided since the end of World War II with ongoing tensions. An apology was subsequently issued by Olympics organisers after the remarkable mix-up.
A statement from the IOC read: “We would like to offer a deep apology over the mistake that occurred in the introduction of the South Korean delegation during the opening ceremony.”
During a news conference on Saturday, spokesperson Mark Adams admitted: “A regrettable operational mistake was made. We can only apologise, in an evening of so many moving parts, that this mistake was made.”
North Korea is making its first appearance at the Games since 2016, having skipped the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 due to Covid-19 fears. On the other hand, South Korea has dispatched a team of 143 athletes to compete in Paris this summer.
Expectations for medal wins are high, with many predicting that South Korea will surpass its medal count from the previous Tokyo Olympics.