Using Their Own National Flag Incorrectly... Ignorance and Incompetence Elicit 'Bitter Laughter' [Paris Olympics]

At an Awards Ceremony, the National Flag Was Displayed Incorrectly
Chinese Flag Shown in Place of Argentine Flag

The Paris Olympics have been repeatedly making frequent mistakes that are unbecoming of an international event, drawing not just criticism but worldwide ridicule. The errors began at the opening ceremony held on the 26th along the Seine River in Paris, France. The Korean delegation was mistakenly introduced as 'North Korea,' and the Olympic rings flag was hoisted upside down. The mistakes did not stop there. This time, during the men's archery team event medal ceremony, the host country France's flag, which won the silver medal, was hoisted lower than the Turkish flag, which won the bronze medal.

On the 29th (local time), at the Reignvalide Archery Stadium in Paris, France, during the men's team final of the 2024 Paris Olympics archery event, the French flag, which won the silver medal, was placed to the left of the Taegukgi and was supposed to be raised higher than the Turkish flag, which won the bronze medal. However, the French flag was hung lower than the Turkish flag and was not corrected until the end of the national anthem. Looking only at the raised flags, it appeared as if France had won the bronze medal.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

On the 29th (local time) at the 2024 Paris Olympics men's team archery final held at the Invalides Archery Stadium in Paris, France, the Korean team composed of Kim Woojin (Cheongju City Hall), Lee Wooseok (Kolon), and Kim Jeduk (Yecheon County Office) defeated France, represented by Thomas Chirault, Jean-Charles Valladont, and Baptiste Edis, 5-1 to win the championship. In the bronze medal match between China, who lost to Korea, and Turkey, who lost to France, Turkey won 6-2, taking home the bronze medal.

The problem occurred during the flag-raising ceremony. According to the competition results, the Taegeukgi was raised highest in the center. The French flag, which won the silver medal, was hung to the left of the Taegeukgi and should have been raised higher than the Turkish flag, which won the bronze medal. However, the French flag was hung lower than the Turkish flag and was not corrected until the end of the national anthem. Looking only at the flags raised, it appeared as if France had won the bronze medal.

A national flag-related mistake also occurred in the women's 100m breaststroke swimming event. When Argentina's swimmer Macarena Ceballos entered for the women's 100m breaststroke quarterfinals, the large screen displayed the Chinese flag, the Five-star Red Flag, instead of the Argentine flag.
[Photo by Online Community]

Flag-related mistakes also occurred in the women's 100m breaststroke swimming event. When Argentina's swimmer Macarena Ceballos entered to participate in the women's 100m breaststroke quarterfinals, the large screen displayed the Chinese flag, the Five-star Red Flag, instead of the Argentine flag. Ceballos looked at the Five-star Red Flag with a bewildered expression but maintained her composure and smiled as she entered. At the time, Argentine commentator Gonzalo Bonadeo said during the live broadcast, "That is the Chinese flag, not the Argentine flag. I can't believe it," adding, "There isn't even a Chinese athlete competing in this event, yet such a mistake happened."

Earlier, on the 27th, the official Olympic social media mistakenly spelled the name of Oh Sanguk, who won the gold medal in the men's sabre individual fencing final, as 'Oh Sangku.' Then, on the 28th, before the men's basketball game between South Sudan and Puerto Rico, South Sudan's national anthem was played incorrectly. The audio stopped after about 20 seconds, and it was only after more than three minutes that South Sudan's anthem was played. South Sudan participated in the Olympic stage for the first time since its independence from Sudan in 2011. However, at their first Olympic appearance, Sudan's anthem was played instead, causing discomfort among the South Sudanese athletes. AFP news agency reported this mistake as similar to the error of mistakenly introducing Korea as North Korea during the opening ceremony.

As mistakes continued to emerge at the Paris Olympics, domestic netizens reacted with comments such as, "I thought it was intentional, but it was incompetence," "When France does it, everything is different," "This is truly Paris class," and "Mistakes that wouldn't even happen at a local sports event are happening at the Olympics."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.