London 2012 Olympic News

The opening day of sport at London 2012 has sparked a row with North Korea after the South Korean flag was mistakenly displayed prior to their women's football opener against Colombia at Hampden Park in Glasgow.

The North Korean player's names were shown beside a picture of the South Korean flag in an embarrassing blunder which marred the opening day of action at London 2012.

Particularly as South Korea are not even competing in the women's football tournament, though their men kick off their Olympic campaign tomorrow.

Relations between the two countries is tense, and they are technically still at war as no peace treaty has ever been signed following the Korean war from 1950 to 1953.

The team walked off the pitch in anger and only returned to start the match with Colombia an hour later.

An angry North Korean official protests after the wrong Korean flag is displayed at Hampden Park

The North Koreans have received a swift apology, with London 2012 organisers saying: "Today ahead of the women's football match at Hampden Park, the South Korean flag was shown on a big screen video package instead of the North Korean flag.

"Clearly that is a mistake.

"We will apologise to the team and the National Olympic Committee and steps will be taken to ensure this does not happen again."

Hampden Park media manager Andy Mitchell said: "The South Korean flag was shown in the video package on the screen before the kickoff and the North Koreans were naturally very upset about that.

"We have made a full apology to the team and the North Korean NOC (National Olympic Commiittee).

"A genuine mistake was made for which we apologise."

Once back on the pitch, the North Koreans did not seem too affected as they went in at half-time 1-0 up against the South Americans.

Kim Song Hui put them ahead with a fortuitous strike when the ball ricocheted in off her knee as she tried to connect with a cross.

Hui then sealed the win with five minutes to go, taking advantage of an error by Stefany Castaño to chip the ball over the line.

It was a confident and composed start by the North Koreans, whose victory is a signal of their intent at these Games, although many observers consider them fortunate to be allowed to take part.

FIFA have banned them from competing in the 2015 World Cup after five members of their team tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs at last year's tournament in Germany.

But they have allowed them to keep their place in the Olympics.

An attempt by the Australians to overturn the decision was unsuccessful.

-David Gold

Source: www.insidethegames.biz

London 2012 Olympic News

A planned strike by British border staff on the eve of London 2012 has been called off, it was announced today.

The strike, called by members of the the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union, was scheduled to place tomorrow, just one day before the start of the Olympic Games, and it would have caused severe problems at all of the key London 2012 transport hubs, including Heathrow Airport, which is now entering its busiest ever period.

The one-day strike was designed to demonstrate anger over cuts to United Kingdom border staff numbers and pay.

The issue had become so serious that Home Office officials were due to ask the High Court to block the strike by declaring it illegal with the Olympic looming.

But the issue has been diverted, at least temporarily, after the PCS were promised that there would be significant investment in the border force and passport service in a move that would see the creation of more than 1,000 new jobs.

"These new jobs are a welcome step towards a recognition that the Home Office has been cracking under the strain of massive job losses, and that the answer is not more cuts but more investment," said PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka.

"We are pleased that with these new posts and the progress made in talks we are able to avert a strike ahead of the Olympics.

"But we first raised our concerns 18 months ago, so it is deeply regrettable that Ministers allowed this dispute to escalate."

Olympic volunteers wait to greet arriving teams at Heathrow Airport ahead of the Games

PCS Parliamentary group chair John McDonnell has also welcomed the move.

"Thank goodness the Government has seen sense," he said.

"The union has secured a tremendous breakthrough to protect its members' jobs.

"This could have been sorted weeks ago.

"There was no need for this heavy-handed brinkmanship by the Government."

By Tom Degun at the Main Press Centre on the Olympic Park in London

Source: www.insidethegames.biz