Indonesian newspaper strongly reacts to national flag mistake at SEA Games 33

(Dan Tri) - Indonesian press has spoken out after the Indonesian flag was mistakenly displayed in the women's futsal competition schedule.

The 33rd SEA Games organizing committee made a serious mistake when displaying the wrong national flag in the women's futsal competition schedule. Instead of displaying the Thai flag, the organizing committee used the Vietnamese flag. Meanwhile, the Indonesian flag was mistaken for the Lao flag.

Incident of wrong national flag display on SEA Games official website (Photo: Matichon).

Faced with that situation, the Indonesian press reacted strongly. Kompas newspaper emphasized: “The incident of displaying the wrong national flag by the SEA Games 33 organizing committee has caused a wave of anger from the Indonesian press and fans.

Host country Thailand has yet to comment on the incident, but it was an inexcusable mistake.

This is not the first time that Indonesia has been mistakenly shown its national flag at the SEA Games. At the 2017 SEA Games in Malaysia, the Indonesian flag was printed upside down on page 80 of the official guidebook given to officials during the opening ceremony at Bukit Jalil Stadium.

At that time, Minister of Youth and Sports Imam Nahrawi strongly condemned the irresponsibility of the organizing committee.

“I think this is an extremely negligent and careless act. This damages the solemnity of the 2017 SEA Games opening ceremony, which is watched by millions of people. We will definitely send a protest note. We are waiting for a direct apology from the Malaysian Government . How can a big and important event like the SEA Games opening ceremony be tarnished by such an error?” Mr. Imam Nahrawi emphasized.

A similar incident was repeated at the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia, when the Indonesian flag was again displayed upside down during the pre-opening ceremony presentation, which was broadcast live on the YouTube channel of the Press Office of The Council of Ministers Cambodia.

The host country's representative later apologized to Indonesia. The Acting Secretary General of the Indonesian Olympic Committee (NOC Indonesia) Harry Warganegara also expressed his protest in an official written document to the 32nd SEA Games organizing committee.

The Indonesian flag was mistakenly displayed at the 2017 SEA Games (Photo: Kompas).

Mr. Harry Warganegara said: “NOC Indonesia officially sent a protest letter to the 32nd SEA Games Organizing Committee for wrongly flying the Indonesian National Flag right before the opening ceremony of the 32nd SEA Games in 2023 at Morodok Techo National Stadium, Phnom Penh.

The upside down placement of our national flag is unacceptable, as we have previously informed the 32nd SEA Games organizing committee of the agreed flag-hanging method. We hope this error will be corrected during the opening ceremony and await your prompt action.”

Meanwhile, Super Ball newspaper emphasized: “This is a shameful incident. The Indonesian flag was mistakenly displayed as the Lao flag, and the Thai flag was also displayed as the Vietnamese flag.

Worse still, this serious error appeared right on the official website of SEA Games 33, where accurate information should be posted. This incident made Indonesian and Southeast Asian fans extremely angry. The SEA Games 33 Organizing Committee made a mistake even before the tournament took place.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-thao/bao-indonesia-phan-ung-gay-gat-sai-sot-nham-quoc-ky-o-sea-games-33-20251203163754628.htm