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Wrong anthems played at Asian Para Games after mishap-marred Asian Games

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In short

A mistake in the Asian Para Games in Nagoya, Japan, resulted in the wrong national anthems being played three times, causing a city official to apologize. Despite assurances that steps were taken to prevent such errors, including reviewing and examining operations based on lessons learned from previous mishaps, the incident occurred. The first error involved the Iranian anthem being played in its entirety, followed by the Mongolian anthem being played after a Mongolian delegation pointed out the mistake. The incident was resolved after officials stopped the incorrect music and broadcast the Chinese anthem for the South Korean anthem, which was mistakenly played for about five seconds. The m…

Key points

  • A mistake in the Asian Para Games in Nagoya, Japan, resulted in the wrong national anthem…: A mistake in the Asian Para Games in Nagoya, Japan, resulted in the wrong national anthems being played three times, causing a city official to apologize.
  • Despite assurances that steps were taken to prevent such errors, including reviewing and…: Despite assurances that steps were taken to prevent such errors, including reviewing and examining operations based on lessons learned from previous mishaps, the incident occurred.
  • The first error involved the Iranian anthem being played in its entirety, followed by the…: The first error involved the Iranian anthem being played in its entirety, followed by the Mongolian anthem being played after a Mongolian delegation pointed out the mistake.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

Wrong national anthems were played thrice at the Asian Para Games in Nagoya, forcing the city's mayor to apologise after similar blunders at the Asian Games.

TOKYO: Wrong national anthems were played three times at the Asian Para Games in Japan's Nagoya this week, prompting the mayor to apologise just days after the city hosted the mishap-plagued Asian Games.

The Asian Para Games is taking place in the central Japanese hub city through Saturday, featuring around 4,000 athletes and officials in 18 sports.

Nagoya Mayor Ichiro Hirosawa apologised on Wednesday (Oct 21) for the latest error, which occurred despite officials' pledges to implement steps to prevent mistakes, including playing the correct national anthems.

"These things happened during the Asian Games, so of course the operations were reviewed and examined based on the lessons learned. The fact that it happened again is really just unacceptable," the mayor told a press conference.

On Monday, a Taiwanese athlete won a men's para taekwondo competition, but the Iranian anthem was played in its entirety, according to Nagoya officials at the mayor's press conference.

Officials realised their mistake after the ceremony, they said.

On the same day, the Iranian anthem was played again during a women's para taekwondo ceremony, where a Mongolian competitor was receiving the gold medal, according to the city.

The incorrect music was stopped after the Mongolian delegation pointed out the error.

Organisers then played the Mongolian anthem after the music was provided by the delegation, Nagoya officials said.

Separately on Monday, officials broadcast the South Korean anthem for about five seconds, instead of the Chinese one, before a sitting volleyball match between China and Iran.

"It is unacceptable, or rather, it's painful. I am very sorry about it," the mayor said, adding that he felt the tournament was otherwise progressing smoothly.

The Asian Games, which concluded in early October, faced heavy criticism for shortcomings ranging from inadequate accomodations for athletes to the playing of wrong national anthems.

On Sep 18, organisers played North Korea's national anthem for the South Korean hockey team.

Original source: www.channelnewsasia.com

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