Mike Tirico Apologizes for Flag Mistake

Mike Tirico, NBC's Olympic sportscaster, issued a swift apology after mistakenly identifying the Martinique flag worn by French basketball player Mathias Lessort as the Palestinian flag during the men's basketball medal ceremony at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Tirico initially stated, 'You saw with Lessort, one of the backup centers, the Palestine flag draped over his shoulders,' during the broadcast. The flags are visually similar, but Tirico acknowledged the critical differences and expressed his regret on social media shortly after the error was highlighted by viewers. His statement emphasized the importance of accuracy given the charged political context surrounding the Middle East conflict. Fans on social media quickly reacted to the blunder, and Tirico confirmed he would make a correction during NBC's primetime show. This incident underscores the sensitivity required in sports broadcasting amid ongoing global tensions.