PARIS — IOC President Thomas Bach is set to apologize to South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol for the misidentification of the South Korean Olympic team during the Paris Olympics' opening ceremony. The error involved the team being introduced as North Korea, sparking significant diplomatic concern.
According to Yonhap News Agency, head of the Korean Sport and Olympic Committee, and Jang Mi-ran, second vice minister of sports, the mistake occurred as the South Korean delegation made its entrance floating down the Seine River. The French-speaking announcer incorrectly referred to the team as the "Democratic People's Republic of Korea," which is the official name for North Korea. This was followed by the same incorrect introduction in English. The incident led to an immediate need for a formal apology, with Bach planning to address the matter directly with President Yoon during a phone call scheduled for 8 p.m. Saturday in South Korea.
Further steps to rectify the issue include the issuance of an official written apology from the IOC. During an earlier IOC press briefing, spokesperson Mark Adams expressed regret over the incident, stating, "We apologize wholeheartedly. An operational mistake was made. We can only apologize, in an evening of so many moving parts, that this mistake was made." This misstep at the globally watched event has put a spotlight on the importance of accuracy in official communications during the Olympic Games.