The Olympic flag was raised upside down during the opening ceremony in Paris with many fans on social media spotting the error and making their feelings known
Olympic organisers were left red-faced after an embarrassing cock-up during the opening ceremony in Paris.
In a change to tradition, the opening ceremony was not held in a stadium, instead taking place down the River Seine.
Boats carried athletes from every country taking part in the Games, as they were paraded one by one to the watching fans in the pouring Paris rain.
The athletes then gathered in a makeshift arena under the Eifell Tower, where Olympic chief Thomas Bach and French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal held court.
As part of the ceremony, the Olympic flag was raised to applause from the crowd. But eagle-eyed fans on social media spotted it was actually raised upside down.
“Oh god is the flag upside down?” one wrote. Another added: “The big spectacle was washed out by the weather, the display was cringe & to top it all off the Olympic flag was hoisted upside down at the zenith of it all.”
Ordinarily, the blue, black and red rings are on top of the Olympic flag, with the yellow and green rings below. But this was reversed as it was hoisted into the Paris sky.
Earlier in the ceremony, Lady Gaga performed to the crowd in a spectacular show. It was brought to a stunning close by Celine Dion at the top of the Eiffel Tower.
Over 300 British athletes with take part in the Olympic Games, many of whom were in attendance at the opening ceremony. Tom Daley and Helen Glover were the flag bearers for Team GB.
Basketball icon LeBron James joined tennis star Coco Gauff as flag bearers for the USA.
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