Anthem gaffe dismays South Sudan Olympic basketball players, fans

South Sudan's opening Olympic basketball match was overshadowed by an embarrassing anthem blunder by organisers on Sunday.

The African nation's basketball team looked distraught after the wrong anthem was played as they lined up before their clash with Puerto Rico.

South Sudan fans at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Villeneuve-d'Ascq jeered from the stands after the blunder.

🇸🇸 A new embarrassment at the Olympics!

Instead of the South Sudan’s anthem, the Sudanese anthem was played! The the audience instantly noticed it.

Reminder, at the opening ceremony of the Games, we recall, South Korean athletes were announced as the DPRK team. pic.twitter.com/QzEbawdkwM

— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) July 28, 2024

The mistake was swiftly rectified and the correct anthem was played, with Puerto Rico's players and supporters applauding in unison.

South Sudan is competing in the Olympic basketball tournament for the first time.

"We present our most sincere apologies to the South Sudan team and their supporters," organisers told AFP.

"We were able to quickly interrupt the anthem which was broadcast in error and play the correct anthem before the start of the game."

Sunday's controversy echoed the gaffe at Friday's opening ceremony, when South Korea's Olympic team was incorrectly introduced as North Korea.