The Olympics is a huge event for the whole world. Countries from all over the world compete for the championship every four years. No wonder, because the medal from the Olympic Games is considered one of the highest achievements in sports! At competitions of such a high level, you can watch the most beautiful and spectacular performances, but we are all human. What does it mean? This means the human factor is involved, and many embarrassments or awkward moments can occur. Let’s take a look at the top 5 awkward moments in the Olympics today.
Burning alive: doves burned out during the 1988 Olympics
The opening of the previous Games in Korea 30 years ago was remembered as a sad and cruel event. The dove release at the opening ceremony symbolized peace and unity in the Olympic family. But in Seoul, the birds ended upright in a bowl with a burning fire, which led to their death. This incident sparked a lot of controversy about the appropriateness of using living beings during the opening ceremony. After that, the organizers preferred to use paper or balloon birds.
Elevator traitor: how Juan Martin got stuck for 40 minutes
2009 US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro threw 40 minutes from his life on Sunday, stuck in the elevator of the Olympic village. Only after that, the Argentinian national handball team arrived in time to rescue him from the metal trap.
Confusion of countries: Korean flags were mixed up at the 2012 Olympics
North Korea’s Olympic women’s soccer team left Glasgow stadium on July 25 after photos of athletes were shown on a large screen in front of the South Korean flag before the qualifying match. The match was supposed to start at 19:45 local time but was postponed for an hour, after which it still took place.
Helen’s wrong choice: the wind blew her dress during the 2012 games
Putting on a thing in the color of the country’s flag, you probably want to show your best intentions, but this is not always for the best. So BBC Helen Skelton put on a red dress and found herself in an awkward situation. The girl presented medals to the British, not knowing what would happen next. The weather was quite windy, and therefore her dress was simply pulled in front of thousands of people! Awkward, Helen!
How to lose a place in the final? Borges’s pole broke
In the summer of 2012, Borges represented Cuba at the London Olympics. Unfortunately, he didn’t manage to get to the final. During the 5.35 qualifying jump, his pole broke at the worst possible time!
