NEW DELHI: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) issued an apology after mistakenly introducing South Korean athletes as North Korean during the Paris Olympics opening ceremony.
This incident took place as the South Korean delegation was sailing down the Seine River in Paris, being introduced with the official name of North Korea, "Republique populaire democratique de Coree" in French, and "Democratic People's Republic of Korea" in English.
"We deeply apologize for the mistake that occurred when introducing the South Korean team during the broadcast of the opening ceremony," stated the IOC on its official Korean-language X account.
This error sparked displeasure in South Korea, known for its cultural and technological advancements, and it remains technically at war with the North. The South Korean sports ministry expressed their regret over this significant blunder.
"We express regret over the announcement during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics, where the South Korean delegation was introduced as the North Korean team," stated the ministry.
As per AFP report, South Korea's second vice sports minister, Jang Mi-ran, who is also a 2008 Olympic weightlifting champion, has requested a meeting with IOC chief Thomas Bach to discuss the matter. The sports ministry has also asked the foreign ministry to "deliver a strong protest to the French side" over the error.
South Korea's National Olympic Committee plans to meet with the Paris Olympics Organising Committee and the IOC to voice their protest. They will request measures to prevent similar incidents in the future and will send an official letter of protest under the name of the head of its delegation.
During the opening ceremony, North Korea was introduced correctly with its official name.
