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2024 Paris Olympics: Olympic flag raised upside down during Opening Ceremony

Members of the French military raised the flag during the ceremony, but appear to have raised it upside down

kari anderson
Contributing writer
·1-min read
The Olympic Flag is raised at Place du Trocadero during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games on Friday in Paris.
The Olympic Flag is raised at Place du Trocadero during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games on Friday in Paris. (Cameron Spencer/Pool/AFP/Getty Images)

With the 2024 Olympics beginning in Paris, things were already off to a tough start with an Opening Ceremony taking place in the pouring rain. Then there was another snafu as the ceremony crept toward a close: The Olympic flag was raised and flown upside down.

Members of the French military raised the flag with its five Olympic rings at the Place du Trocadero near the Eiffel Tower. Unfortunately, it was askew with the symbol's two bottom rings flipped to the top.

It is unclear what caused the mistake.

The Opening Ceremony featured several hours of dances, performances — including Lady Gaga and Celine Dion — and a procession of athletes in boats down the Seine River, all in the pouring rain. Despite the poor weather, spirits were high, even with the ceremony stretching toward the early morning ahead of the final torch lighting.