During the Parade of Nations portion of the 1988 Summer Olympics opening ceremony, athletes from each country participating in the Olympics paraded in the arena, preceded by their flag. The flag was borne by a sportsperson from that country chosen either by the National Olympic Committee or by the athletes themselves to represent their country.
As the nation of the first modern Olympic Games, Greece entered the stadium first; whereas, the host nation South Korea marched last. Other countries entered in alphabetical order in the language of the host country (Korean), according with tradition and IOC guidelines. The collation method used is based on the names as written in Hangul, a traditional Korean alphabet.[1]
Whilst most countries entered under their short names, a few entered under more formal or alternative names, mostly due to political and naming disputes. The Republic of China (commonly known as Taiwan) entered with the compromised name and flag of "Chinese Taipei" ("차이니스 타이페이") under 타 ta, while the conflicting People's Republic of China (commonly known as China) entered as "중화인민공화국" under 중.
Among the nations with Korean names starting with 이 i, several reorderings occurred because of the hostile relationship between the countries. Hangul alphabetic order would have dictated . Iran was moved three spaces later in the parade while Israel was moved five spaces later (an additional two spaces past Iran), changing the parade order into .
160 nations entered the stadium with a combined total of 8,391 athletes.[2] [3] Eight nations made their Olympic debut: Aruba, American Samoa, Brunei, Cook Islands, Maldives, Vanuatu, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and South Yemen. North Korea and its ally Cuba boycotted the games for the second consecutive time, while Ethiopia, Albania and the Seychelles did not respond to the invitations sent by the IOC,[4] allegedly in solidarity with North Korea.[5] Madagascar did not participate due to financial considerations, Nicaragua did not participate due to the ongoing civil war, and South Africa was excluded due to its apartheid policies.[6] [5]
Notable flag bearers in the opening ceremony featured the following athletes: seven-time Olympian and Star sailor Hubert Raudaschl (Austria); defending Olympic champions Evelyn Ashford (United States) in the women's 100-metre dash;[7] Jouko Salomaki (Finland) and Vasile Andrei (Romania) in Greco-Roman wrestling; Ernesto Canto (Mexico) in race walking; Agneta Andersson (Sweden) in the women's kayak sprinting; Matija Ljubek in the men's canoe sprinting; and six-time Olympian Reiner Klimke (Federal Republic of Germany), who led the West German team to a gold-medal victory in the equestrian dressage; synchronized swimmers Mikako Kotani (Japan) and Carolyn Waldo (Canada), who eventually topped the podium in both the solo and duet routines; eight-time Olympian and Star sailor Durward Knowles (the Bahamas); eventual gold medalists Ulf Timmermann (German Democratic Republic) in the men's shot put and Aleksandr Karelin (Soviet Union) in the super heavyweight Greco-Roman wrestling; five-time track sprinter and Moscow 1980 champion Pietro Mennea (Italy); long-distance runner Grete Andersen-Waitz (Norway), who bagged a silver medal in the inaugural women's marathon four years earlier; and world-number-three tennis player Gabriela Sabatini (Argentina) in the women's singles.[8]
The following is a list of each country's announced flag bearer. The names are given in their official designations by the IOC.
Some differences occurred between the official placard displays and the official announcements:
| Order | Nation | Hangul | Roman transliteration | Flag bearer | Sport | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 그리스 | Geuriseu | Wrestling | |||
| 2 | 가나 | Gana | Athletics | |||
| 3 | 가봉 | Gabong | Athletics | |||
| 4 | 가이아나 | Gaiana | Boxing | |||
| 5 | 감비아 | Gambia | Athletics | |||
| 6 | 과테말라 | Gwatemalla | Shooting | |||
| 7 | 괌 | Gwam | Judo | |||
| 8 | 그레나다 | Geurenada | Athletics | |||
| 9 | 기니 | Gini | Wrestling | |||
| 10 | 적도 기니 | Jeokdo Gini | Athletics | |||
| 11 | 나이지리아 | Naijiria | Athletics | |||
| 12 | 네덜란드 | Nedeollandeu | Shooting | |||
| 13 | 네팔 | Nepal | Athletics | |||
| 14 | 노르웨이 | Noreuwei | Athletics | |||
| 15 | 파푸아뉴기니 | Papua-Nyugini | Weightlifting | |||
| 16 | 뉴질랜드 | Nyujillandeu | Canoeing | |||
| 17 | 니제르 | Nijereu | Athletics | |||
| 18 | 덴마크 | Denmakeu | Equestrian | |||
| 19 | 도미니카 공화국 | Dominika Gonghwaguk | Athletics | |||
| 20 | 독일 민주 공화국 | Dogil Minju Gonghwaguk | Athletics | |||
| 21 | 독일 연방 공화국 | Dogil Yeonbang Gonghwaguk | Equestrian | |||
| 22 | 라오스 | Raoseu | Athletics | |||
| 23 | 라이베리아 | Raiberia | Athletics | |||
| 24 | 레바논 | Rebanon | Toni Khouri | Official | ||
| 25 | 레소토 | Resoto | Athletics | |||
| 26 | 루마니아 | Rumania | Wrestling | |||
| 27 | 룩셈부르크 | Ruksembureukeu | Shooting | |||
| 28 | 르완다 | Reuwanda | Athletics | |||
| 29 | 리비아 | Ribia | Athletics | |||
| 30 | 리히텐슈타인 | Rihitensyutain | Cycling | |||
| 31 | 말라위 | Mallawi | ||||
| 32 | 말레이시아 | Malleisia | Athletics | |||
| 33 | 말리 | Malli | ||||
| 34 | 멕시코 | Meksiko | Athletics | |||
| 35 | 모나코 | Monako | Cycling | |||
| 36 | 모로코 | Moroko | Athletics | |||
| 37 | 모리셔스 | Morisyeoseu | ||||
| 38 | 모리타니 | Moritani | Wrestling | |||
| 39 | 모잠비크 | Mojambikeu | Swimming | |||
| 40 | 몰디브 | Moldibeu | Athletics | |||
| 41 | 몰타 | Molta | Archery | |||
| 42 | 몽고 | Monggo | Judo | |||
| 43 | 미국 | Miguk | Athletics | |||
| 44 | 바누아투 | Banuatu | Athletics | |||
| 45 | 바레인 | Barein | Athletics | |||
| 46 | 바베이도스 | Babeidoseu | Athletics | |||
| 47 | 바하마 | Bahama | Sailing | |||
| 48 | 방글라데시 | Banggeulladesi | Swimming | |||
| 49 | 버마 | Beoma | Boxing | |||
| 50 | 버뮤다 | Beomyuda | Athletics | |||
| 51 | 버진 제도 | Beojin Jedo | Robert Fellner[9] | Taekwondo | ||
| 52 | 영국령 버진 제도 | Yeonggungnyeong Beojin Jedo | Athletics | |||
| 53 | 베냉 | Benaeng | Athletics | |||
| 54 | 베네수엘라 | Benesuella | Table tennis | |||
| 55 | 베트남 | Beteunam | Athletics | |||
| 56 | 벨기에 | Belgie | Rowing | |||
| 57 | 벨리즈 | Bellijeu | Cycling | |||
| 58 | 보츠와나 | Bocheuwana | ||||
| 59 | 볼리비아 | Bollibia | Swimming | |||
| 60 | 부르키나파소 | Bureukinapaso | ||||
| 61 | 부탄 | Butan | Archery | |||
| 62 | 불가리아 | Bulgaria | Fencing | |||
| 63 | 브라질 | Beurajil | Judo | |||
| 64 | 브루나이 | Beurunai | ||||
| 65 | 미국령 사모아 | Migungnyeong Samoa | ||||
| 66 | 서사모아 | Seo-Samoa | Athletics | |||
| 67 | 사우디아라비아 | Saudiarabia | Salah Al-Mar | Official | ||
| 68 | 사이프러스 | Saipeureoseu | Shooting | |||
| 69 | 산마리노 | Sanmarino | Dominique Canti[10] [11] | |||
| 70 | 엘살바도르 | Elsalbadoreu | Wrestling | |||
| 71 | 세네갈 | Senegal | Athletics | |||
| 72 | 세인트빈센트 그레나딘 | Seinteubinsenteu Geurenadin | Athletics | |||
| 73 | 소련 | Soryeon | Wrestling | |||
| 74 | 소말리아 | Somallia | Aboukar Hassan Adani | Athletics | ||
| 75 | 솔로몬 제도 | Sollomon Jedo | Gustave Mansad | Chef de mission | ||
| 76 | 수단 | Sudan | Athletics | |||
| 77 | 수리남 | Surinam | Cycling | |||
| 78 | 스리랑카 | Seurirangka | Shooting | |||
| 79 | 스와질란드 | Seuwajillandeu | Athletics | |||
| 80 | 스웨덴 | Seuweden | Canoeing | |||
| 81 | 스위스 | Seuwiseu | Athletics | |||
| 82 | 시리아 | Siria | ||||
| 83 | 시에라리온 | Sierarion | ||||
| 84 | 싱가포르 | Singgaporeu | Swimming | |||
| 85 | 아랍에미리트 | Arap-Emiriteu | Cycling | |||
| 86 | 아루바 | Aruba | Judo | |||
| 87 | 아르헨티나 | Areuhentina | Tennis | |||
| 88 | 아이슬란드 | Aiseullandeu | Judo | |||
| 89 | 아이티 | Aiti | Athletics | |||
| 90 | 아일랜드 | Aillaendeu | Boxing | |||
| 91 | 아프가니스탄 | Apeuganiseutan | Wrestling | |||
| 92 | 안도라 | Andora | ||||
| 93 | 안티과 | Antigwa | Athletics | |||
| 94 | 네덜란드령 안틸레스 | Nedeollandeuryeong Antilleseu | Sailing | |||
| 95 | 알제리 | Aljeri | ||||
| 96 | 앙골라 | Anggolla | Athletics | |||
| 97 | 에스파냐 | Eseupanya | Sailing | |||
| 98 | 에콰도르 | Ekwadoreu | Athletics | |||
| 99 | 영국 | Yeongguk | Field hockey | |||
| 100 | 예멘 민주 공화국 | Yemen Minju Gonghwaguk | ||||
| 101 | 예멘 아랍 공화국 | Yemen Arap Gonghwaguk | ||||
| 102 | 오만 | Oman | Shooting | |||
| 103 | 오스트레일리아 | Oseuteureillia | Field hockey | |||
| 104 | 오스트리아 | Oseuteuria | Sailing | |||
| 105 | 온두라스 | Onduraseu | Athletics | |||
| 106 | 요르단 | Yoreudan | ||||
| 107 | 우간다 | Uganda | Boxing | |||
| 108 | 우루과이 | Urugwai | Rowing | |||
| 109 | 유고슬라비아 | Yugoseullabia | ||||
| 110 | 이라크 | Irakeu | ||||
| 111 | 이집트 | Ijipteu | ||||
| 112 | 이탈리아 | Itallia | Athletics | |||
| 113 | 인도 | Indo | Wrestling | |||
| 114 | 이란 | Iran | ||||
| 115 | 인도네시아 | Indonesia | ||||
| 116 | 일본 | Ilbon | Synchronized swimming | |||
| 117 | 이스라엘 | Iseura'el | Shooting | |||
| 118 | 자메이카 | Jameika | Athletics | |||
| 119 | 자이르 | Jaireu | Athletics | |||
| 120 | 잠비아 | Jambia | Athletics | |||
| 121 | 중앙아프리카 | Jung'ang-Apeurika | Boxing | |||
| 122 | 중화 인민 공화국 | Junghwa Inmin Gonghwaguk | Basketball | |||
| 123 | 지부티 | Jibuti | Athletics | |||
| 124 | 짐바브웨 | Jimbabeuwe | ||||
| 125 | 차드 | Chadeu | Athletics | |||
| 126 | 체코슬로바키아 | Chekoseullobakia | Athletics | |||
| 127 | 칠레 | Chille | Athletics | |||
| 128 | 카메룬 | Kamerun | Athletics | |||
| 129 | 카타르 | Katareu | Sailing | |||
| 130 | 캐나다 | Kaenada | Synchronized swimming | |||
| 131 | 케냐 | Kenya | ||||
| 132 | 케이맨 제도 | Keiman Jedo | ||||
| 133 | 코스타리카 | Koseutarika | Swimming | |||
| 134 | 코트디부아르 | Koteudibuareu | ||||
| 135 | 콜롬비아 | Kollombia | Shooting | |||
| 136 | 콩고 | Konggo | ||||
| 137 | 쿠웨이트 | Kuweiteu | Athletics | |||
| 138 | 쿡 제도 | Kuk Jedo | Athletics | |||
| 139 | 차이니스 타이페이 | Chainiseu Taipei | Athletics | |||
| 140 | 타이 | Tai | ||||
| 141 | 탄자니아 | Tanjania | Athletics | |||
| 142 | 터키 | Teoki | Wrestling | |||
| 143 | 토고 | Togo | Athletics | |||
| 144 | 통가 | Tongga | Athletics | |||
| 145 | 튀니지 | Twiniji | ||||
| 146 | 트리니다드 토바고 | Teurinidadeu Tobago | Athletics | |||
| 147 | 파나마 | Panama | Swimming | |||
| 148 | 파라과이 | Paragwai | Athletics | |||
| 149 | 파키스탄 | Pakiseutan | Field hockey | |||
| 150 | 페루 | Peru | Rodrigo Ranguna | Official | ||
| 151 | 포르투갈 | Poreutugal | Shooting | |||
| 152 | 폴란드 | Pollandeu | Wrestling | |||
| 153 | 푸에르토리코 | Puereutoriko | ||||
| 154 | 프랑스 | Peurangseu | Fencing | |||
| 155 | 피지 | Piji | Swimming | |||
| 156 | 핀란드 | Pillandeu | Wrestling | |||
| 157 | 필리핀 | Pillipin | Swimming | |||
| 158 | 헝가리 | Heonggari | Canoeing | |||
| 159 | 홍콩 | Hongkong | Table tennis | |||
| 160 | 대한민국 | Daehan Minguk | Judo |