2024-07-27 16:23:50
A major goof-up occurred during the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) mistakenly introduced the South Korean delegation as North Korea. The error caused widespread outrage in South Korea, and the Olympic Committee formally apologised later.
As the South Korean team sailed down the River Seine alongside other participating nations, the announcer incorrectly identified them as the “Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,” the official name of North Korea. The same name was repeated when introducing the actual North Korean delegation.
The North and South Koreas share a hostile relationship rooted in the division of the Korean Peninsula following the Second World War. From one of the most brutal wars in history to recent heightened tensions, the countries have a longstanding history of conflict.
The Olympics Committee has expressed deep regret for the incident and has assured South Korea that measures will be taken to prevent such errors in the future.
“We deeply apologise for the mistake that occurred when introducing the Korean team during the opening ceremony broadcast,” the International Olympic Committee said in a post on X in Korean.
South Korea has expressed its disappointment over the incident, emphasising the importance of accurately representing the two nations.
IOC President Thomas Bach spoke with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol to personally apologise for the blunder. The South Korean President told Bach that the people of his country were “very shocked and embarrassed” over the incident.
Spokesperson of the Olympics Committee Mark Adams also called the error “clearly deeply regrettable.”
“An operational mistake was made. We can only apologise, in an evening of so many moving parts, that this mistake was made,” Adams said.
South Korea’s Sports Ministry requested the country’s Foreign Ministry to file “a strong government-level complaint” with the French government, where the Olympics is being held.
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olympics, paris Olympics, south korea, north Korea, IOC president, Thomas bach
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