Kazakh officials were left red-faced when instead of the national anthem, Ricky Martin’s song "Livin 'la Vida Loca" was played at the solemn opening ceremony of a regional ski festival, local Tengri News reported on Monday.

The incident occurred at the opening ceremony of the Healthy Ski Tracks 2012 in Kostanay, organized by the head of the regional administration, Nuraly Saduakasov.

“Eyes on the flag of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The hymn of the Republic of Kazakhstan is beginning,” the voice-over intoned. But then, as Saduakasov and the rest of the ceremony participants stood with hands on hearts, the sound system launched into Martin's bouncy pop hit.

Saduakasov and several participants of the ceremony remained motionless until the Martin song was replaced with the Kazakh national anthem.