In a significant mishap at the Paris Olympics, the incorrect national anthem was played for South Sudan before their men’s basketball game. South Sudan, a nation that gained independence in 2011 following a civil war, faced this glitch during their Olympic debut. Despite the anthem blunder, the team made history by securing their first Olympic victory with a 90-79 win over Puerto Rico on Sunday.
Jt Thor, Majok Deng, Sunday Dech, Peter Jok, and Wenyen Gabriel from South Sudan were left perplexed when the wrong anthem began. The track was cut off after 20 seconds, leading to confusion and boos from fans at Lille’s Pierre Mauroy Stadium. Both South Sudanese and Puerto Rican players stood united, with hands over their hearts, until the correct anthem was played three minutes later to much applause.
South Sudan’s coach, Royal Ivey, an American, remarked on the pride his players have for their country, emphasizing their resilience. “South Sudan means ‘the land of the Black.’ These players were eager to hear their anthem. Mistakes happen, but we corrected it. These players are brothers,” he said.
Forward Nuni Omot, who scored 12 points, shared how the incident fueled their determination. “We felt disrespected, but we have to continue earning respect. This shows people still don’t fully respect us,” he stated. Omot also appreciated the solidarity shown by Puerto Rico’s players and the fans, highlighting their supportive gesture during the anthem mix-up.