Full Breakdown
Anthem Mix-Ups at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Incident Overview
During the ongoing Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, three separate national-anthem errors occurred on the same day. Nagoya city officials reported that Iran’s anthem was played instead of the Chinese Taipei Paralympic Committee anthem during the men’s para-taekwondo medal ceremony and instead of Mongolia’s anthem during the women’s ceremony. In a sitting-volleyball match, South Korea’s anthem was played for about five seconds in place of China’s before a women’s game between China and Iran.
Background & Context
The organizing committee had already faced criticism after a similar mix-up at the Asian Games that concluded on October 4, when the North Korean anthem was mistakenly played for South Korea. Following that incident, officials said procedural reviews were undertaken, yet the same type of error reappeared at the Para Games.
Official Statements & Responses
He added that the organizers stopped the incorrect music and replayed the correct anthems, and that the medal ceremony for the men’s event was redone on October 22.
Data & Statistics
- Event 1: Men’s para-taekwondo medal ceremony – Iran’s anthem played instead of Chinese Taipei’s (reported by city officials).
- Event 2: Women’s para-taekwondo medal ceremony – Iran’s anthem played instead of Mongolia’s (city officials).
- Event 3: Women’s sitting-volleyball match – South Korea’s anthem played briefly instead of China’s (city officials).
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the exact date of the first taekwondo error: the *Strait Times* places it on October 19, while *Newson Japan* cites October 20. Both agree the error involved Iran’s anthem being used for the wrong delegation. The precise technical cause is described only as an “incorrect music-playback software setting,” without further detail.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We are sorry that such issues happened again,” — Ichiro Hirosawa, nagoya mayor
- “These mistakes also happened at the Asian Games, so I thought the procedures had been reviewed based on what we learned. But it has happened again. This is not good,” — Ichiro Hirosawa, nagoya mayor
- “It was unacceptable that the problem reoccurred. We sincerely apologise to the athletes and officials concerned,” — Ichiro Hirosawa, nagoya mayor