Olympic Flag Accidentally Flown Upside Down at Opening Ceremony

Karl Rasmussen | Jul 26, 2024

Olympic flag is raised during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Games in Paris. / Screenshot via Dan Wetzel on X

The 2024 Olympic opening ceremony took place Friday in Paris, despite the ongoing downpour throughout the city.

The torch made many stops along its journey to the Tuileres Garden—from where it ultimately lifted off in a hot air balloon—with multiple renowned athletes involved in passing the cauldron along as it traveled across land, air and sea.

Paris brought out all the stops for the opening ceremony, but when it came time to unveil the Olympic flag, things didn't go quite so smoothly. The flag was attached to the pole and raised, but soon after it was flown it quickly became apparent that the Olympic logo was being displayed upside down.

Those who managed to stay awake during the Opening Ceremonies were treated to the Olympic flag being flown upside down pic.twitter.com/flIG1kF8g7

— Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) July 26, 2024

Unfortunately for the flag raisers, their gaffe didn't go unnoticed by those watching the ceremony from home. Sports fans on social media were quick to point out the mistake, which went viral online.

Have they raised the flag upside down? #OpeningCeremony pic.twitter.com/0jxDT0qPZB

— Tom Freeman (@SnoozeInBrief) July 26, 2024

This has to be the biggest upside down #flag gaff in history. This account was made for this moment. #OpeningCeremony pic.twitter.com/bCxgJFDVNS

— Flags in Distress (@DistressedFlags) July 26, 2024

Oh god is the flag upside down? pic.twitter.com/MSl0RradEe

— Scott Bryan (@scottygb) July 26, 2024

If you’re having a bad day at work, it could be worse. You could be the flag team that hoisted the Olympic Flag upside down at the opening ceremony. #Paris2024

— Jonathan Jaworski (@jaworskijp) July 26, 2024

Look, we've all done it. We've all hung an important flag upside down. We've all done it. #OpeningCeremony

— Kat Brown (@katbrown) July 26, 2024

I’m in awe of France spending €130m on a lavish, unintelligible ceremony that culminates in sending the Olympic flag down the Seine on a robot horse for nearly half an hour, the central moment of the event, only for them to raise it upside down.

— Against League 3 (@AgainstLeague3) July 26, 2024