Anthem Mishap Exposes Asian Games' Shambolic Organisation The Asian Games have been plagued by organisational mishaps, but none as jarring as the moment when North Korea's national anthem was played instead of South Korea's before their hockey match against Bangladesh.
The incident at Green Stadium in Gifu, Japan, sparked widespread ridicule and embarrassment for the tournament organisers. This blunder speaks to deeper issues within the Asian Games' administration.
The North Korean national anthem is banned in South Korea due to wartime animosity, making its play a clear breach of protocol that underscores the incompetence and lack of attention to detail plaguing the games from the start.