In a memorable twist at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony, the Luxembourg delegation inadvertently became the talk of the event when they faced the wrong direction during their procession along the Seine, a blunder they attribute to incorrect instructions from the organisers.

A total of 206 delegations from around the world took part in Friday's opening ceremony for the Paris Olympics, with boats taking the flag-waving participants along the Seine for a unique display. Unfortunately, when the Luxembourg delegation rode by the film cameras around 9pm, every single member faced in the opposite direction to cheerfully greet spectators on the other side of the river, leaving audiences at home with nothing but a view of their backs.

Unsurprisingly, the clip quickly made rounds on social media and people followed up just as quickly with various memes at the expense of the Luxembourg team.

In conversation with RTL, Luxembourg delegation chief Raymond Conzemius explained that organisers provided them with false instructions. While acknowledging that it was not the best of looks for the Luxembourg team, Conzemius took it with a smile, arguing that "perhaps now people are speaking about us more than ever".

Conzemius also shared a picture of the delegation on Facebook in which everyone is facing the camera, noting that this is "what it looks like when we are told how to position ourselves and where to look".

Conzemius praises integration and inclusion

While the rain was expected to dampen the mood during the opening ceremony, Luxembourg delegation members still managed to enjoy themselves and their unique perspective on the parade, according to Conzemius. They decided to swiftly return to the Olympic village afterwards, but since several delegations had the same idea, it still took shuttle services a significant amount of time to get everyone back.

Only the doctor, physiotherapist, and the technical director of the Luxembourg Olympic and Sports Committee (COSL) stayed until the end, watching the remainder of the ceremony from the Trocadero and particularly enjoying the light display.

Overall, Conzemius praised the organisers for how integration and inclusion were featured in the ceremony: "It may have lasted a bit long, but I actually thought it was an enormous gesture from the French to show how different nationalities, different sports, Olympics and Paralympics, have come together."

The Luxembourg delegation now hopes to quickly forget about the television blunder and instead make news by excelling in their respective disciplines.