Wrong Anthems Played at Asian Para Games in Nagoya — SkimNews
Get the Geopolitics newsletter
Daily geopolitics — wars, elections, sanctions, the diplomatic moves that move markets. Free.
- Nagoya organizers played the Iranian national anthem for a Taiwanese para taekwondo gold medalist, prompting a formal apology from city officials.
- Nagoya organizers repeated the error the same day by playing the Iranian anthem during a Mongolian athlete’s medal ceremony, stopping only after the delegation raised the issue.
- Mongolian delegation provided their national anthem on-site after organizers failed to play it, leading to a delayed correction during the women’s para taekwondo event.
- Nagoya Mayor Ichiro Hirosawa apologized publicly, calling the repeated mistakes 'unacceptable' despite prior reviews following similar errors at the Asian Games.
- Organizers briefly played South Korea’s anthem instead of China’s before a sitting volleyball match between China and Iran, compounding the week’s controversies.
Why it matters: For athletes from Taiwan and Mongolia, the errors represent a diplomatic and personal slight, undermining recognition of their achievements. With Nagoya having already faced criticism during the Asian Games, the repeated failures suggest systemic operational flaws that could damage Japan’s reputation in hosting major international events, especially when correct anthem protocols are a basic expectation.
Ask SkimNews
