Why is North Korea allowed to participate in the Olympics? Look at individuals that have been banned and look at how the government treats its own citizens as well as how it behaves towards S Korea. That certainly isn't within the spirit of the Olympics......

Rather than ban them, let them, the elite of the masses, to see, as I saw when I went into East Berlin. The Paris of the East, it was a dismal sight to see. So for these ATHLETES, to see that even though they know the truth that North Korea is the best, something about London, and all the food and automobiles and big biuldings, not hollow and empty, but overflowing; even free condoms to protect the world from North Korean Athletes; "Baby,wannah have my liitle Kim?" 아기, 내 liitle wannah 김(If only they can get out of their room). The Olympic Political does not attempt to descriminate or know anything about anything other than World, a competition is being held and all athletes are invited to attend. They do not ask if you ate flesh or rice, fish nor fowl. In what way does humanity profit by preventing the hidden ones from peeking out of the box - they will have real stories to take home and share. Let not your thirst for spilled blood move you from the truth of the living conditions of children everywhere who are innocent and in suffering. Let them run to the nearest bobby or soldier and recieve asylum, better yet abduct them and let them know they got options if they don't want to return to their homeland, any Olympic Athlete. They have earned it, as Athletes.
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Are you okay, man? Lay off the "window pane" it's affecting your literary skills.

However, I do get your sentiments about helping North Koreans to defect during the Olympics. In fact, I think "defection" should be an Olympic sport in which all communist / totalitarian / islamo-facist countries should be made to compete.

Who really gives a damn about North Korea? They're aggressive little puinks who are itching to start a war in that region. I say to hell with them. They're lucky they're even allowed to participate in the Olympics. Pork-Chop-Lee or whatever the hell his name is, needs to feed his people before he worries about what damned flag gets displayed on a scoreboard.

Kim Jong Irked.
If it WASN'T deliberate, whoever threw-up the wrong flag on-screen deserves a promotion for knowing how to tweak somebody's nose.

North Korea has fans ? You never want to misinterpret what people do. If there were North Koreans in the stadium to watch the match, there could only be one reason they left early and that would be to defect. Any other explanation is fantasy . . . . . .

I am no fan of North Korea, but this was a really dumb mistake and no one can balme the players for being upset.

F*ck the North Koreans, they shouldn't even be at the Olympics. I don't think it's extreme to say that country needs to wiped off the face of the Earth. They acted like babies over what was most likely (even though if it was intentional I think the person should be promoted) a mistake and delayed the match, punishing the other team. It should've been considered a forfeit and the North Koreans should be sent home. That country has no place at the Olympics.

I Never thought I would say this but; "The North Koreans did the right thing!" How would a United States team react to see themselves announced with a flag of Canada or Mexico on the board in place of the Stars and Stripes.

We would have Smiled or Laughed and that's all!

We aren't at War with Canada, Maybe Mexico! :)

It would be both funnier and probably more accurate if it were Mexico's flag.

That's a really dumb statement, we are on perfectly good terms with both countries, we aren't constructing a nuclear arsenal or led by egotistical leaders(minus Obama). We have a sense of humour, its a careless mistake or an ingenious move. If you remember correctly the Gold Cup finals ceremony was done in Spanish on American soil and we were content with it, its not that big of a deal.

North Koreans NEVER do the right thing. North Koreans can suck a nut and go back to North Korea!!!!!!!! AMERICA.......FU@K YEAH!!!!!!!!

Tiredofitall--"Why is North Korea allowed to participate in the Olympics?"
How about: "Why is (Insert name) allowed to participate in the Olympics?"
*China
*Iran
*Venezuela
*Cuba
*Egypt
*Syria
*Libya

Because its not the United States of Tyranny (America) games. Everyone is allowed whether it pisses you off or not.

Next time turn their flag upside down!

An unrelated incident: Taiwanese flag was taking down at London Olympics due to pressure from China. Taiwan is a de facto sovereign country despite China's claim as a province of China. It seems politics has overran sports in this case.

Look at who wins most of the medals............countries who are democratic. Nuf said?

what about when the soviet union used to win all the medals??

Some of the comments here are quite pathetic. If DPRK and others should not be there, what special right does your coutry have that it must compete where others should not. Who are you to judge others

because people in our COUNTRY can spell

immature

totally agree. they're like children at a primary school playground.

"extremely insensitive"??? What do you call killing or imprisoning citizens who attempt to exercise their religion? What do you call forcing all citizens to worship the dictator? What do you call limiting all of the citizens' political, religious, and economic freedoms so that they are forced to eat the bark off of trees?

Gee... where to start?? They shouldn't be allowed to compete, somehow after 60+ years we think they will get better as a nation - Haven't met a dictatorship yet who willingly stepped down and gave up power... ain't gonna happen! So, who cares what they think!

It should be about the athletes and not the government. The fact that North Korea let their athletes come alone should say something alone.

As far as the flag is concerned, anyone else remember quite a few years back when the United States Marine Corps brought the flags in during the World Series when Montreal was in the series, and they had put the Canadian Flag on the standards upside down? Funny how we Americans just didn't find anything wrong with that when it happened right here in our country, when it was with our neighbors to the north, but Americans just couldn't figure out why Canadians were so pissed off.

Think about it folks, if the U.S. flag were to show up upside down, or another flag were to show up, we would be expecting apologies from everyone everywhere. These are athletes we are talking about, not a government. They worked hard to get there if not harder. North Korea doesn't exactly provide the training and money like China and the old USSR did.

When were the Montreal Expos ever in the World Series? Perhaps you refer to the 1981 NLCS? Or perhaps to another event altogether.

Amazing that the US boycotted the Olympics. Actually our moron president Carter thought that would be a good idea because of military actions by Russia. S. Africa was banned because of apartheid. But, NK can participate even with all of their human rights violations. Thank China. They have lots of pull.

North Korea have every right to be upset at the flag-display error. Any sovereign nation would have. That said - as it was made with no ill-intent, and was rectified promptly - they have nothing to kick about (pun intended, kinda). However... as has been previously mentioned - North Korean Football should have been banned from participating in these Games - but as was not mentioned - here is why: several players (5, if I recall correctly) had recently tested positive for doping. Grounds for dismissal, to be sure. N. Korea are banned from participating in any upcoming World Cup-related events for whatever time period was mandated... but were allowed to attend the Olympics this year. How much sense doesn't t h a t make?! Whomever said "Politics have officially overrun Sport" was spot-on.

Can't we all just get along!! For staying out 45 minutes, I can justify a reduction of one place in the standings for being disrespectful. If they win gold, they get silver etc. I can accept 5 minutes, but not any longer.

The reason for the interlocking rings on the Olympic flag is symbolic in showing that the Olympic Games are intended for all nations to be able to come and compete against one another in unity. The five colors of the Olympic rings and the white background have at least one color of every nation’s flag in them. That doen't just mean Red, White and Blue. Leave your political and religious beliefs out of it and let ATHLETES compete from any nation that wishes.