Paris Olympics 2024: IOC Apologizes for Misidentifying South Korean Athletes As North Korean at Opening Ceremony

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) issued an apology on Saturday after an embarrassing mix-up during the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, where a delegation of South Korean athletes was mistakenly introduced as coming from North Korea.

The incident occurred on Friday evening as South Korean athletes passed on a boat along the Seine River. The announcer introduced them as participants from the “Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,” which is the official name of North Korea. This announcement was made in both French and English. However, the subtitles displayed on the television broadcast correctly identified the delegation as South Korean, according to a report by the BBC.

The error is particularly sensitive given the historical and ongoing tensions between South Korea and North Korea, which have been divided since the end of World War II.

IOC’s response

In response to the incident, South Korea’s second vice sports minister, Jang Mi-ran, a 2008 Olympic weightlifting champion, has requested a meeting with IOC President Thomas Bach to discuss the matter, as reported by AFP. Additionally, South Korea’s foreign ministry issued a statement saying it had contacted the French embassy in Seoul, which expressed regret over what it called an “incomprehensible mistake.”

The IOC took swift action to apologize for the blunder. In a message posted on its official Korean-language X account, the IOC stated, “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.”

The Paris Olympics kicked off with a four-hour ceremony along the Seine, featuring performances by global stars such as Celine Dion and Lady Gaga, and showcasing both historic and modern French culture. The grand event also included a flotilla of barges carrying over 6,000 Olympians.

With the opening ceremony concluded, the 33rd Olympic Games officially began on July 27. India has sent a formidable 117-member contingent to the Games, aiming to surpass their seven-medal haul from the Tokyo Olympics.

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