The president of South Korea, Yun Seok-yeol, spoke by phone with International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach after the Paris Olympics opening ceremony controversy. He expressed deep disappointment that South Korean athletes were briefly identified with North Korea during the event, and he conveyed the nation’s concern over the incident. He urged a formal apology and called on media networks and social platforms to reinforce accurate representation to prevent a repeat in the future.
As the Republic of Korea serves as host for both the Winter and Summer Olympic Games as well as the FIFA World Cup, its citizens felt a strong sense of surprise and disappointment. The president emphasized the need for clear messaging across all media channels to ensure proper recognition of athletes and to preserve national pride during international competitions.
The opening ceremony occurred on the Seine River on July 26, with coverage and commentary circulating among international audiences. Various outlets reported the event as it unfolded, highlighting the sensitivity of nationality representation at high-profile gatherings and the potential impact on audience perception across the globe.
In February 2022, the International Olympic Committee issued guidance urging international sports federations to restrict participation by Russian and Belarusian athletes in certain events. The IOC subsequently decided to allow Russians and Belarusians to compete as neutral athletes at the 2024 Olympic Games, conditioned on meeting specific criteria and qualification standards. This framework aimed to balance competitive fairness with safety and neutrality concerns in a global sport arena.
On July 18, the IOC published a full roster of Russian athletes accepted for the 2024 Games, listing a total of 15 competitors. This move reflected ongoing efforts to integrate neutral athletes within the broader Olympic program while maintaining clear guidelines for eligibility and conduct among all participating nations.
Earlier in the Games cycle, discussions continued about how delegations from Russia addressed competition, with several athletes not securing medals in previous Olympic appearances. The evolving policies and results underscored the IOC’s ongoing management of eligibility, neutrality standards, and competitive outcomes on the world stage.