Globo makes a mistake and mixes up the UK flag with the Japanese flag in Fantástico

Globo made a mistake during the presentation of the Olympic medal table for the Paris 2024 Olympics in the Fantastico program, last Sunday (11). When presenting the final positions of the countries, the broadcaster changed the Japanese flag to the flag of the United Kingdom.

The error occurred as sports journalist Alex Escobar was presenting the medal tally. Japan, which came in third with 20 gold, 12 silver and 13 bronze, had its flag replaced by that of the United Kingdom, which came in seventh. The Japanese flag is one of the most famous in the world, a white rectangle with a red circle in the middle, while the United Kingdom’s flag is blue with the red and white Union Jack.

The gaffe quickly went viral on social media, with many netizens joking about the situation. “Did the Japanese flag change? I didn’t know… It looks pretty!” joked one X user, formerly of Twitter. Others criticized the broadcaster’s lack of interest, noting that the Japanese flag is very simple and easy to recognize.

Globo has yet to officially comment on the error, but the situation has sparked debate about the importance of accuracy and care in conveying information, especially at high-definition events like the Olympics.