The Olympics bosses have apologised for a blunder last night when the South Korean team were introduced as North Koreans in the opening ceremony in Paris.
As the South Korean delegation sailed down the Seine River in the French capital, they were introduced with the official name for North Korea: ‘Republique populaire democratique de Coree’ in French, then ‘Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’ in English.
The International Olympic Committee apologised this morning for the gaffe.
‘We deeply apologise for the mistake that occurred when introducing the South Korean team during the broadcast of the opening ceremony,’ the IOC said in a post on its official Korean-language X account.
The error sparked displeased reactions in South Korea, a global cultural and technological powerhouse that is technically still at war with the nuclear-armed and impoverished North.
High jumper Woo Sang-hyeok (right) waves the main Korean flag as the South Korean delegation rides a boat on the Seine River
North Korean athletes raise their country’s flag during the opening ceremony of the Olympics
Asom Kim, a physiotherapist from team South Korea takes a selfie with the Eiffel Tower
South Korea’s sports ministry said in a statement it ‘expresses 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’.
Second vice sports minister Jang Mi-ran, a 2008 Olympic weightlifting champion, has asked for a meeting with IOC chief Thomas Bach to discuss the matter, it added.
The sports ministry has also asked the foreign ministry to ‘deliver a strong protest to the French side’ over the issue, the statement said.
South Korea’s National Olympic Committee plans to meet with the Paris Olympics Organising Committee and the IOC to voice their protest, request measures to prevent a recurrence, and send an official letter of protest under the name of the head of its delegation, the sports ministry said.
North Korea was correctly introduced with the country’s official name.
Relations between the two Koreas are at one of their lowest points in years, with the North bolstering military ties with Russia while sending thousands of trash-carrying balloons to the South.
In response, Seoul’s military blasts K-pop and anti-regime messages from border loudspeakers and recently resumed live-fire drills on border islands and near the demilitarised zone that divides the Korean peninsula.
The Eiffel Tour lit up as Celine Dione performed her power ballad at the Opening Ceremony
The Olympic Rings lit up under the Eiffel Tower where Celine Dion performed
Team GB diver Tom Daley and rower Helen Glover re-enact the Titanic
Prince Albert and Princess Charlene of Monaco with their children Jacques and Gabriella
It’s another blow for a night marred by a series of disappointments.
The organisers’ efforts were dampened by torrential downpours that led spectators, celebrities, politicians and royals from around the world to cower under umbrellas.
While many in the viewing stands chose to wear a poncho, the UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was pictured amid the sea of plastic coverings determinedly refusing to wear such a garment.
But as the rain increased, he opted to put the hood of his raincoat up instead.
France’s unique plan to hold the opening event outdoors rather than inside a stadium, as is typical, was criticised by many who watched the historic night, with some slamming it as the ‘worst Olympic opening ceremony in memory’.
Arm chair viewers were left unimpressed by Lady Gaga’s performance of Folie Bergiere, which she sang entirely in French on the riverbanks of the Seine, after it was marred by sound issues.
Torrential rain in Paris marred the opening ceremony with many spectators seen wearing ponchos and holding umbrellas
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer appeared less than impressed by miserable weather in Paris
A sea of ponchos on the banks of the River Seine last night at the Opening Ceremony
As France’s tricolour flag erupted from the Pont d’Austerlitz Bridge just after 6.30pm UK time, 6,800 athletes began travelling down the murky waterway in huge a flotilla of 85 boats.
But in what was branded as a weather ‘disaster’ by French meteorologists, athletes were forced to chuck on ugly plastic ponchos and shield with umbrellas as they tried to keep spirits up while being lashed by rain.
Other bizarre elements of the four-hour ceremony, included a performance by French ‘national treasure’ Phillippe Katerine, who was seen lying on a boat, naked and painted blue, covered by a fruit platter.
And when the Olympic flag was finally raised after President Emmanuel Macron opened the ceremony, it was hoisted up the poll upside down.
Earlier on in the night, Athletes on Team GB’s boat – lead by flag bearers diver Tom Daley and rower Helen Glover, with tennis stars Andy Murray and Katie Boulter onboard – decided to embrace the poor weather, forgoing raincoats and umbrellas as they beamed and waved to fans.
Lady Gaga’s opening performance narrowly avoided the rain before the heavens opened
Water is pushed off the stage under the Eiffel Tower
Tightrope walker Nathan Paulin performs on a high rope during the athletes’ parade
Amongst those attending the Opening Ceremony were a string of famous faces, including pop star Arianna Grande, Tennis champion Serena Williams and Hollywood royalty Stephen Spielberg.
Many arrived in the dry but shortly after the ceremony kicked off the heavens opened. VIPs and officials in the stadium ran to find cover under plastic rain macs as rain lashed down.
Hundreds of brollies were raised obscure in the view for many as the athletes, on 85 boats, headed down the river towards the Eiffel Tower.
A mechanical horse was seen travelling down the Seine carrying the Olympic flag down before a horse rider arrived at the Trocadero.
President Macron and Olympic chief Thomas Bach were given only muted applause as they rose from their seats to greet the crowds, in a highly secure enclosure at the Eiffel Tower. The two men were luckier than most, remaining under cover in the VIP section.
Mr Bach called for unity at a time of conflict: ‘In a world torn apart by wars and conflicts, it is thanks to this solidarity that we can all come together tonight.’
The Olympic torch was then presented by Zidane who reappeared at Trocadero. He then handed to Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal, who hopped onto a boat back on the Seine.
The Opening Ceremony for the Paris 2024 Olympics last night
Huge Team USA boat sails down the Seine carrying hundreds of athletes
A horsewoman carrying the Olympic Flag down the River Seine
An aerial view of the Eiffel Tower and the Olympics Rings lightened up during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
He was then joined by American tennis player Serena Williams and US track athlete Carl Williams.
Lat night was the first Olympic ceremony in 33 games to be staged outside with the plan backfiring spectacularly leading to a surge of criticism.
One official, shielding from the rain, said: ‘It is such a shame that this rain has spoiled the evening. The French people have looked forward to this night for a very long time. But there’s nothing anybody can do about the weather. Let’s hope the rest of the Olympics is better.’
Another spectator from India said: ‘I have just seen the Indian team on the video screen on their boat and now I’m leaving. Enough is enough. I can’t take this rain anymore. I am 70 years old.’
On top of that, a ‘massive arson attack’ earlier yesterday brought mayhem to France’s rail network – leaving both spectators and athletes stranded.
The ‘co-ordinated acts of malice’ on high-speed rail lines across the Channel left sport fans facing travel chaos, with snaking queues forming at St Pancras as Eurostar trains were delayed or axed.
Eurostar told customers to cancel their trips yesterday if they could – advice which was echoed by Prime Minister Sir Keir, who was seen sat in a prime seat at the stadium after travelling to France by plane instead of his planned route from St Pancras.
In a major blow to Olympics organisers, Eurostar delays are set to last until Monday, with one in four trains due to be cancelled today and over the weekend, with floods expected to drench the city overnight.
