The Olympics have officially taken place after many delays due to the pandemic. And although everything seemed to go smoothly, the opening ceremony did not go according to plan.
It Seems Like Some "inappropriate" Pictures Were Aired By South Korean TV Network
They have since apologized for what they did.
Scroll down to find out what exactly happened…
The COVID-19 Pandemic Has Brought Everything To A Standstill In The Last Eighteen Months
Many major countries across the globe went into lockdown to try to stop the virus from spreading even more.
Restrictions have been in place throughout 2020 and 2021.
Most major events and social gatherings had to be either canceled or postponed.
The Effect Has, Of Course, Reared On Music Festivals All Over The World
Even the famous annual music and arts festival Coachella was delayed four times due to the pandemic and is expected to occur in 2022.
Major Athletic Events Were Also Impacted
The UEFA European Football Championship was also supposed to take place in 2020, but it was pushed back until last month.
The Cancellation Of The Olympics, However, Has Been The Most Shocking
Every four years, the highly anticipated Olympic Games are held in several major cities worldwide.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil's lively city, was the host of the Olympic Games in 2016.
After Brazil did, it was Japan's turn to host the famous athletic event in 2020.
Everyone was excited to witness a long summer of various sporting events in Japan's capital, which had successfully hosted the Olympics on two previous occasions
Unfortunately, The Coronavirus Epidemic Put People's Excitement On Hold
Officials behind the games opted to postpone the event by a whole year, along with other big social gatherings and athletic events that were abruptly canceled.
In a joint statement at the time, the organizers of Tokyo 2020 and the IOC said:
"The unprecedented and unpredictable spread of the outbreak has seen the situation in the rest of the world deteriorating... The IOC president and the prime minister of Japan have concluded that the Games of the XXXII Olympiad in Tokyo must be rescheduled to a date beyond 2020 but not later than summer 2021, to safeguard the health of the athletes, everybody involved in the Olympic Games and the international community."
Unsurprisingly, This Shocking Decision Has Left Many People Completely Devastated
So many people around the world were getting all ready for a summer of sports.
Thousands of qualified athletes felt heartbroken after the delay.
Luckily, The Olympics Have Officially Begun!
The Games already started on July 23 and will last until August 8, 2021.
At the Games, rigorous precautions and restrictions are in place, including requiring participants to undergo a daily saliva test.
Moreover, everyone at the Games must wear a mask, and spectators are prohibited from seeing most Olympic events.
However, many people are relieved to see the events taking place at all.
The Opening Ceremony Last Week Opened A New Chapter
And although everything looked to be going well, something went horribly wrong...
In its broadcast of the event, a TV network used what are now considered "inappropriate" pictures and captions to refer to the countries that compete in the games.
MBC Received Backlash For Their Coverage Of The Tokyo Olympics Opening Ceremony
The South Korean TV network coverage included "inappropriate" pictures and subtitles referring to countries competing in the games.
As for when representatives from Italy arrived, they showed a picture of a pizza!
According to Reuters, salmon was displayed for Norway, sushi for Japan, a scene of unrest for Haiti, and a portrayal of the mythical Dracula for Romania.
MBC apologized after receiving backlash online in a Twitter statement:
People Had A Lot To Say About It
What do you think? Are these actions really "inappropriate,'' or a light and fun way to start the Games?
