Olympic organisers have apologised to South Korea for mistakenly introducing their athletes as North Korea at the opening ceremony.
The South Korean delegation were left outraged over the embarrassing gaffe that marred their arrival in Paris on Friday.
A lavish and unique opening ceremony saw around 6,800 athletes unveiled on a 3.5-mile flotilla of 85 boats down the River Seine.
South Korea, who have brought over 140 competitors to Paris, were among the most excited despite the wet and windy conditions.
However, as their boast passed underneath the Pont d’Austerlitz, both French and English announcers wrongfully introduced them.
‘Republique populaire democratique de Coree’ was announced in French, before ‘Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’ was spoken in English – which is the official name of North Korea in both languages.
The same two names were then used, albeit this time correctly, when North Korea’s much more modest delegation sailed past afterwards.
The subtitle that was featured across the bottom of the television broadcast showed the correct title for both nations, however, South Korea are still demanding measures to prevent the announcement gaffe from recurring.
The two countries have been in conflict since the end of World War Two, with both nations claiming to be the sole legitimate government of the Korean Peninsula.
In response to the Olympic faux pas, the South Korean sports ministry revealed that it planned to lodge a ‘strong complaint with France on a government level’.
“We express regret that the country was introduced as North Korea at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games when the athletes of the Republic of Korea were entering,” a statement read.
The ministry also added that the second vice sports minister, Jang Mi-ran, a 2008 Beijing gold medalist weightlifting champion, had demanded a meeting with Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) have now moved to ease tensions by offering South Korea a ‘deep apology’ for the blunder.
A post on its official Korean-language X account said: “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.”
Paris’ opening ceremony was full of blunders, from the Olympic flag being flown upside down to dancers flashing, but the announcement gaffe was by far the most egregious.
The Korean conflict has lasted nearly 80 years, but tensions between the two nations are at one of their highest points in decades.
The North dropped at least 260 balloons carrying rubbish in the South, with Seoul retaliating with frontline broadcasts of K-pop songs and anti-Pyongyang messages across the border.
The North’s continuous military ties with Russia have also escalated tensions that reached a new low when a joint liaison office set up to help communication between the two was blown up in 2020.
In January, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un labelled Seoul a ‘principal enemy’.
In a public address, he said the South’s citizens should no longer be regarded as ‘fellow countrymen’ after its constitutional commitment to unification was officially abandoned.
South Korea has 143 athletes competing across 21 events this summer.
The North meanwhile has sent just 16 competitors in their first appearance at the Games since Rio 2016.
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- Olympic chiefs issue ‘deep apology’ for embarrassing South Korea blunder during opening ceremony
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