CARDIFF, July 26: A major diplomatic incident marred the first day of competition at the London Olympics on Wednesday when the North Korea women’s football team walked off after the South Korea flag was mistakenly displayed before their match against Colombia.

The error occurred at Glasgow’s Hampden Park stadium which was hosting one of the day’s six matches kicking off the women’s tournament and led to a delay of more than an hour before the game eventually started with the Koreans winning 2-0.

In the day’s other matches, reigning Olympic champions the United States, bidding for a third successive gold, came from behind to beat France 4-2, world champions Japan defeated Canada 2-1 and hosts Britain overcame New Zealand 1-0.

Brazil, among the favourites for gold, thrashed Cameroon 5-0 and Sweden, another possible medallist, thumped South Africa 4-1.

The football tournament started early because of its long match schedule.

Results: At Cardiff:

Group ‘E’: Great Britain 1    New Zealand 0 Cameroon 0    Brazil 5 At Coventry:

Group ‘F’ Japan 2    Canada 1 Sweden 4    South Africa 1 At Glasgow:

Group ‘G’: USA 4    France 2 Colombia 0    North Korea 2 —Agencies