German national anthem mix-up
It’s a very familiar tune, but not many people know the real words. The war-time version is never sung at a sporting event since 1952. nowadays, a more bland version about unity is used. Sadly, Swiss TV forgot about that before a German match against Austria; its subtitles included the old words. Swiss TV has now apologized. But they’re not the first to make such a mistake. Saudi Arabia nearly caused a diplomatic incident when it played Syria’s national anthem in a match against Lebanon; the Czechs nearly caused a riot when they cut off the Scottish national anthem before it finished; and then there was an English mishap when the singer mispronounced Croatia’s lyrics.
At The World, we believe strongly that human-centered journalism is at the heart of an informed public and a strong democracy. We see democracy and journalism as two sides of the same coin. If you care about one, it is imperative to care about the other.
Every day, our nonprofit newsroom seeks to inform and empower listeners and hold the powerful accountable. Neither would be possible without the support of listeners like you. If you believe in our work, will you give today? We need your help now more than ever!