David Cameron leads chorus of apologies for North Korean flag flap

British Prime Minister David Cameron led a chorus of apologies on Thursday at the London Olympics for the "honest mistake" of displaying the South Korean flag alongside photos of North Korean players before their match against Colombia.

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As the hours counted down to the opening ceremony, the flag flap wasn't the only issue for organizers. A sprawling shopping mall next to the Olympic Park was briefly evacuated due to a fire alarm, officials at the Aquatics Centre were cranking up the air conditioning to bring down the heat for swimmers, and doping cost two more athletes their Olympic dream.

The flag gaffe at Glasgow's Hampden Park led to the North Korean team refusing to take the pitch on Wednesday for just over an hour and overshadowed the first day of Olympic sport as the women's football tournament started with six matches.

The reclusive communist nation's IOC member, Chang Ung, said it was a mistake that should not have happened.

"I am really surprised how ... the London Olympic team, the protocol people, didn't invite someone from the team to check if it is your flag," Chang told The Associated Press. The flag flap was raised again as Cameron visited the Olympic Park. The premier called the mix-up an "honest mistake" and said "every effort will be taken to make sure this won't happen again."

IOC President Jacques Rogge echoed Cameron, calling the flag flap a "most unfortunate incident" and "a simple human mistake."

Football was again the only sporting action today with the first men's matches, including the long-awaited major tournament debut of Welsh veteran Ryan Giggs in the Britain team against Senegal at Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium.

The 38-year-old Britain captain has won 12 Premier League titles, five FA Cups and two Champions League trophies with United and earned 64 caps for Wales, but never qualified for an major international tournament.

With the opening ceremony just a day away, the Olympic torch was visiting the top tourist sites of London including the Houses of Parliament, Downing Street and Buckingham Palace, where it was do be greeted by Prince William and his wife Kate, Duchess of Cambridge.

The flame's 12,900-kilometer journey ends on Friday night when the final torchbearer whose identity remains a closely guarded secret lights the Olympic cauldron.

Security contractor G4S on Thursday said it is getting hundreds more workers each day who can hopefully replace British troops drafted in to cover a shortfall of guards.

(With PTI inputs)