The Paris Olympics organizers have issued an official apology after mistakenly introducing the South Korean team as North Korea during the opening ceremony. The mix-up, which occurred in both the English and French broadcasts on July 26, sparked a massive public outcry. “In this telephone call, the IOC President apologized sincerely for the mistake,” said the president of the IOC after a call with the South Korean leader. The apology came after the announcer wrongly identified the South Korean team as the “Democratic People’s Republic of Korea” instead of the “Republic of Korea.” 

This blunder recalls the 2012 London Olympics, where organizers mistakenly displayed the South Korean flag during a North Korean women’s football match. The IOC expressed its deepest regrets over the latest opening ceremony mistake and pledged to review the incident to prevent future errors.

IOC deeply laments the blunder during the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics

The Associated Press (AP) recently shared an Instagram clip of IOC spokesperson Mark Adams at a press conference held on July 27, 2024. He addressed the mix-up of names at the opening ceremony. At the opening ceremony, South Korean athletes sailed down the Seine on a boat, proudly waving their flag. However, the announcers mistakenly referred to them in English and French as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, which is the official name for North Korea, not South Korea. The Republic of Korea officially refers to South Korea. Adams called the incident “clearly deeply regrettable” and expressed his disappointment.

Adams further said, “an operational mistake was made. We can only apologize, in an evening of so many moving parts, that this mistake was made.” His tone conveyed a sense of frustration and regret over the error. The IOC subsequently wrote on X in Korean, “We deeply apologize for the mistake that occurred when introducing the Korean team during the opening ceremony broadcast.” Additionally, the South Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism announced they will submit “a strong government-level complaint” to the French government. To address the issue, Thomas Bach, the IOC president, plans to meet with South Korea’s President, Yoon Suk Yeol. They will discuss the situation and seek a resolution. The South Korean Olympic Committee has contacted the Paris Olympics organizers. They want to ensure that such an incident does not happen again.

The IOC president elaborated, “The problem was identified as a human error, for which the IOC is deeply sorry”. The tense relationship between North and South Korea makes the matter more grave. Ever since the aftermath of World War II, countries have not been on good terms. In recent weeks, tensions on the Korean Peninsula have risen steadily. Pyongyang has sent thousands of trash-filled balloons to South Korea. Some of these balloons have even reached the presidential compound in Seoul. This year, about 143 South Korean athletes will compete in 21 events during the Olympics as compared to the 16 athletes sent by North Korea. As the Paris Olympics begins, South Korea faces mounting challenges on and off the field.

The plight of the South Korean team continues 

Recently, South Korean swimmers on the 4×200-meter freestyle relay team, including Kim Woomin and Hwang Sunwoo, had to move into a hotel near the La Defense Arena. Here they will compete during the Olympics after a horrible experience on the buses used to transport athletes from the village. Located 12 km away, the town is quite far from the arena. Tight security and traffic on the roads extend the forty-minute journey to 1.5 hours. Additionally, the windows are also taped on the buses lacking air conditioners to avoid terrorist attacks. 

Due to this, it has created an atmosphere like a “sauna” inside the buses, according to Hwang. He added, “It’s cooler outside than inside the bus. It usually takes about 40 to 45 minutes from the village to the arena, but it took us more than an hour and a half (on Thursday). The windows were taped, probably because they are worried about terrorist attacks. But something has to be done.” Even KSF president Chong Chang-hoon said, “We just want to make sure they will be at least a bit more comfortable”.  

It is of utmost importance for athletes to be in top form to compete well. Additionally, several athletes have complained that the French authorities provided stiff mattresses made from recyclable materials. Some athletes have also expressed that the mattresses have “thrown their backs out.” When added, all these complaints call into question French hospitality’s sincerity. The plight of the South Korean team continues, leaving many to wonder: will they ever catch a break on the international stage?