Reactions as Olympics MC pronounces Omanyala's name wrongly

Kenyans on social media had a good laugh after a video surfaced showing a master of ceremonies at the Paris Olympics mispronouncing the name of Kenyan athlete Ferdinand Omanyala.

The video, shared by CNN correspondent and fellow Kenyan Larry Madowo, captured Team Kenya during the opening ceremony as they paraded down the River Seine.

The announcer, while recognizing the Kenyan team and flag bearers Ferdinand Omanyala and volleyball player Triza Atuka, struggled with Omanyala's name.

Although the announcer correctly pronounced Ferdinand's first name, she fumbled with Omanyala, saying "Omanpayaya" instead.

She also mispronounced Triza's name, but it was the incorrect pronunciation of Omanyala that really tickled Kenyans.

Geoffrey Rono humorously commented, "Ferdinand Omanpalyaya," adding a laughing emoji to his post.

Some Kenyans, half-jokingly, called for an apology from the Olympic organizers, while others even suggested legal action. "We, the People of Kenya, demand a formal apology!" stated Okara Maranga in his reaction.

The Opening Ceremony was marred by confusion, prompting organizers to issue a "deep apology" after South Korean athletes were mistakenly introduced as North Korean.

Both French and English announcers referred to the South Korean team as the "Democratic People's Republic of Korea," the official name for North Korea. This error was later corrected when the actual North Korean delegation was introduced.

The two Koreas have been divided since the end of World War II, and tensions between them have recently intensified.

The television broadcast displayed the correct title in the subtitles at the bottom of the screen.

The South Korean sports ministry plans to file a "strong complaint with France on a government level" over the mishap.

In a statement, the ministry expressed "regret over the announcement where the South Korean delegation was introduced as the North Korean team." The statement also revealed that Jang Mi-ran, the second vice sports minister and a 2008 Olympic weightlifting champion, has requested a meeting with Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) issued an apology on its official Korean-language X account, stating: "We would like to offer a deep apology for the mistake made during the introduction of the South Korean delegation at the opening ceremony."

South Korea, formally known as the Republic of Korea, has 143 athletes competing in 21 sports at this year's Olympics. North Korea, which has sent 16 athletes, is participating in the games for the first time since Rio 2016.