'No mistakes are allowed!': Chinese state media voice fury after 'incorrect' national flags are used at Rio Olympics

  • 'Flawed' flags have risen at medal ceremonies during Rio Olympics
  • They have the wrong arrangement of the stars, claimed Chinese media
  • Organiser of the game have reportedly apologised to the country

By Tracy You For Mailonline

Published: 10:49 EST, 8 August 2016 | Updated: 23:27 EST, 8 August 2016

Chinese media and internet users have pointed out that an incorrect version of their national flag have been repeatedly used at the Rio Olympics.

The flawed flags used at several medal presentation ceremonies showed the wrong arrangement of the stars, claimed China Central Television Station (CCTV).

The station, which is the country's central broadcasting organisation, wrote on its social media account yesterday: 'The national flag is the symbol of a country. No mistakes are allowed.'

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Flawed: The Chinese public were furious after an incorrect version of their national flag appeared at the Rio Olympics (pictured)

Flawed: The Chinese public were furious after an incorrect version of their national flag appeared at the Rio Olympics (pictured)

The Chinese flags used in Rio have the wrong star arrangement, said Chinese national TV station. On the correct version, the four small stars should point towards the big one

The Chinese flags used in Rio have the wrong star arrangement, said Chinese national TV station. On the correct version, the four small stars should point towards the big one

 The four smaller stars symbolise the solidarity of Chinese people of all social classes and ethnic groups under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, explained Chinese media

 The four smaller stars symbolise the solidarity of Chinese people of all social classes and ethnic groups under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, explained Chinese media

The Chinese Olympic team complained to the organising committee of the Rio Olympics as soon as they realised the flaw on the flags. 

Rio Olympic committee has apologised to the Chinese authority and said they would contact the manufacturer of the flags as soon as possible, reported the People's Daily Online.

The subtle mistake was first spotted on August 6 during the medal ceremony of the Women’s 10 metre air rifle.

Chinese athletes, Du Li and Yi Siling, won the silver and bronze medals and two Chinese national flags rose after the game.

Eagle-eyed Chinese journalists soon found out that the four little stars on the flags were not pointing towards the big star. 

Instead, they were lined paralleled to each other. 

CCTV wrote on Weibo: 'The national flag is the symbol of a country. No mistakes are allowed' 

CCTV wrote on Weibo: 'The national flag is the symbol of a country. No mistakes are allowed' 

The same version of the Chinese flag has appeared at several other ceremonies afterwards.

The subtle difference apparently touched the principle of the Chinese national flag, which is known as the 'Five-star Red Flag'.

CCTV later explained on its Facebook page: 'The larger yellow star represents the Communist Party of China, and the four smaller stars symbolise the solidarity of Chinese people of all social classes and ethnic groups under the leadership of the CPC.'

The Chinese Olympic team have complained to the organising committee of the Rio Olympics

The Chinese Olympic team have complained to the organising committee of the Rio Olympics

Cui Yongyuan, an influential Chinese TV anchor, has also vented his anger to his nine million followers on social media site Weibo.

Cui wrote in a post yesterday: 'The Five-star Red Flag is the symbol of the People's Republic of China. Nothing can go wrong.'

It was initially suggested that these flags had been produced by a factory called Jinyu Home Textile in east China's Zhejiang Province.

However, the boss of the factory, surnamed Jin, denied the allegation during an interview with Huanqiu.com.  

Mr Jin said his factory had made some flags which were distributed to the audience, but not the ones used at the medal ceremony.

It's yet to be revealed who made these flawed flags. 

The news quickly became a trending topic on Chinese social media. 

CCTV's post have been shared nearly 30,000 times and received nearly 20,000 comments since yesterday. 

A topic page has also been set up on Weibo, gathering more than seven million views as of writing.

Made in China? It was initially suggested that these flags had been produced by a factory in China, but the boss of the factory has denied the allegation

Made in China? It was initially suggested that these flags had been produced by a factory in China, but the boss of the factory has denied the allegation

Chinese internet users have expressed their disappointment and dissatisfaction at the organisation of the Rio Olympics.

Many of them have started attaching an icon of the Chinese national flag after their handles on Weibo.

One Weibo user called 'Uaena Xian' said: 'Brazilian Olympics is lame.' 

Another user called 'Tao zhi yao yao_Tiara' wrote: 'Rio, please be more careful.'

A third user 'Huan le bing yu men zhe' posted: 'The manufacturer should be held responsible. This is too imprecise.'

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