Wrong National Anthems Played Three Times at Asian Para Games in Japan

Three incorrect national anthems were played at the Asian Para Games in Nagoya, Japan, this week. Mayor Ichiro Hirosawa apologised on Wednesday, calling the repeat errors “unacceptable” after officials had pledged to prevent a recurrence of problems at the Asian Games. On Monday, Iran’s anthem was played during medal ceremonies for a Taiwanese para-taekwondo athlete and then a Mongolian competitor; the Mongolian delegation alerted officials and supplied the correct anthem. At China’s men’s sitting volleyball final, South Korea’s anthem was also broadcast for about five seconds instead of China’s.