NBC’s Mike Tirico swiftly apologizes for misidentifying Martinique flag as Palestine on broadcast WPXI [Video]

Medal table | Olympic schedule |How to watch | Olympic news

NBC broadcaster Mike Tirico issued a swift apology on social media for misidentifying a flag worn by France’s Mathias Lessort during the men’s basketball medal ceremony on Saturday.

“Just acknowledging, as soon as possible, my error for misidentifying the Martinique flag as the flag of Palestine during the medal ceremony at Men’s Basketball today,” Tirico wrote. “They are similar but obviously distinctly different, which is quite important for all involved. I apologize for the error and will correct on-air during our primetime show tonight.”

The flag draped around Lessort’s shoulders was for Martinique, an overseas territory of France located in the Caribbean Sea. However, Tirico said Lessort was wearing the Palestine flag during the NBC broadcast.

“You saw with Lessort, one of the backup centers, the Palestine flag draped over his shoulders,” Tirico said, via Awful Announcing. “We are certainly conscious of …