Olympics MC Causes Massive Uproar For Incorrect Omanyala Name Pronunciation
Kenyans on social media couldn’t stop laughing after seeing a video of a master of ceremonies at the Paris Olympics mispronouncing Kenyan athlete Ferdinand Omanyala’s name.
The video, shared by CNN correspondent Larry Madowo, a Kenyan, showed Team Kenya participating in the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics.
As the excited flag-waving team floated down the River Seine, the English announcer struggled to pronounce the Kenyan sprinter’s name.
The announcer recognized the team and mentioned the names of the flagbearers, including Omanyala and volleyball player Trizah Atuka from Kenya.
While he struggled a little and got Africa’s fastest man’s first name, Ferdinand, right, she ended up saying Omanpayaya instead of Omanyala.
Ferdinand who? 😳 pic.twitter.com/uP5sCuVQEd
— Larry Madowo (@LarryMadowo) July 26, 2024
Though she spelled Trizah’s first name incorrectly, it was how she pronounced ‘Omanyala’ that had Kenyans in stitches.
Others, seemingly in jest, demanded an apology from the Olympic organisers, while some suggested legal action be taken.
“We, the People of Kenya, demand a formal apology!” Okara Maranga stated in his reaction.
The opening ceremony was marred by confusion, prompting organisers to issue a “deep apology” after South Korean athletes were mistakenly introduced as North Koreans.
They were referred to as the “Democratic People’s Republic of Korea” by both French and English announcers.
When North Korea’s delegation sailed past, they used the same name correctly.
The two Koreas have been divided since the end of WWII, with tensions between the two states recently escalating.
However, the subtitle at the bottom of the television broadcast showed the correct title.
The South Korean sports ministry stated that it planned to file a “strong complaint with France on a government level” regarding the embarrassing gaffe.
The ministry issued a statement expressing “regret over the announcement… where the South Korean delegation was introduced as the North Korean team.”
According to the statement, Jang Mi-ran, the second vice sports minister and a 2008 Olympic weightlifting champion, requested a meeting with Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) issued an apology via its official Korean-language X account.
“We would like to offer a deep apology over the mistake that occurred in the introduction of the South Korean delegation during the opening ceremony,” read the post.
South Korea, officially known as the Republic of Korea, has 143 athletes on its Olympic team this year, competing in 21 sports.
North Korea has sent sixteen athletes. This is the first time it has participated in the games since Rio 2016.
Olympics MC Causes Massive Uproar For Incorrect Omanyala Name Pronunciation
