The opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics caused huge controversy.

August 8, 2024, 2:17 pm EDT

Also, there were quite a few points of contention for this year's Olympics. What are all of them?

First, the opening ceremony

Many of the performances in the opening ceremony caused huge controversy. According to reports, some netizens claimed that the video of the opening ceremony on the official Olympic account had been taken down and could not be watched. One of the sponsors of the Olympics, American tech company C Spire, was unhappy with the content of the opening ceremony and announced that it would be pulling all of its advertisements during the Games.

Screenshot from the official Olympic account

Post by C Spire

Regarding the controversy over the opening ceremony, the Associated Press reported:

Paris' Olympics opening was wacky and wonderful - and upset bishops.

It did away with it entirely as it hammered home a message that freedom must know no bounds.

Paris didn't just push the envelope. It did away with it entirely as it hammered home a message that freedom must know no bounds.

Here are a few of the controversial programs mentioned in the report:

1. A 21st-century update of Leonardo da Vinci's 'Last Supper'

A 21st-century version of 'Last Supper'

DJ and producer Barbara Butch, an LGBTQ+ icon who calls herself a "love activist," wore a silver headdress that looked like a halo as she got a party going on a footbridge across the Seine, above parading athletes - including those from countries that criminalize LGBTQ+ people. Drag artists, dancers and others flanked Butch on both sides.

DJ and producer Barbara Butch is an LGBTQ+ icon and self-proclaimed "love activist". Wearing a silver headdress that looked like a halo, she threw a party on a pedestrian bridge over the Seine. Below the bridge were athletes marching in boats, including those from countries that criminalize LGBTQ+ people. Drag artists, dancers and others flanked Butcher.

The tableau brought to mind Leonardo da Vinci's "Last Supper," which depicts the moment when Jesus Christ declared that an apostle would betray him.

The scene is reminiscent of Leonardo da Vinci's "Last Supper," which depicts the moment when Jesus Christ declared that an apostle would betray him.

Thomas Jolly, the artistic director of the opening ceremony, says that wasn't his intention. He saw the moment as a celebration of diversity , and the table as a tribute to feasting and French gastronomy.

Thomas Jolly, the artistic director of the opening ceremony, says that wasn't his intention. He saw the performance as a celebration of diversity , and the table as a tribute to feasting and French gastronomy.

Still, critics couldn't unsee what they saw.

The French Catholic Church's conference of bishops deplored what it described as "scenes of derision and mockery of Christianity" and said "our thoughts are on the subject". Christianity" and said "our thoughts are with all the Christians from all continents who were hurt by the outrage and provocation of certain scenes."

The French Catholic Bishops' Conference condemned what it called "scenes of derision and mockery of Christianity" and said "our thoughts are with all the Christians from all continents who were hurt by the outrage and provocation of certain scenes."

Prominent far-right politician Marion Maréchal denounced the performance on social media.

"To all the Christians of the world who are watching the Paris 2024 ceremony and felt insulted by this drag queen parody of the Last Supper. know that it is not France that is speaking but a left-wing minority ready for any provocation," she posted on the social platform X, a sentiment that was echoed by religious conservatives internationally.

She posted on the social platform X, a sentiment that was echoed by religious conservatives internationally: "To all the Christians in the world who watched the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympics in Paris and were insulted by drag queens' hilarious parody of The Last Supper, know that it is not France that is speaking but a left-wing minority ready for any provocation." This view was echoed by International Religious Conservatives.

2. is that a revolver in your pocket?

Is that a revolver in your pocket?

When a giant silver dome lifted to reveal singer Philippe Katerine reclining on a crown of fruit and flowers, practically naked and painted blue, audiences who didn't think he was a revolver were going to be able to get away with it. audiences who didn't think he was Papa Smurf may have guessed that he represented Dionysus, the Greek god of wine and ecstasy.

A huge silver round lid rises and singer Phyllis Catlin reclines on a crown of fruits and flowers, practically naked and painted blue. Those in the audience who don't think he's Papa Smurf may have guessed that he represents Dionysus, the ancient Greek god of wine and revelry.

But unless they speak French, they may not have caught the cheekiness of his lyrics.

"Where to hide a revolver when you're completely naked?" he sang, pointing down to his groin. "I know where you're thinking. But that's not a good idea."

"Where do you hide your revolver when you're completely naked?" He sang and pointed to his pussy. "I know where you're thinking. But it's not a good idea."

"No more rich and poor when you go back to being naked. yes," Katerine continued.

"No more rich and poor when you go back to being naked. Yes." Katerine continued to sing.

Decades after Brigitte Bardot sang "Naked in the Sun," this was Paris' reminder that everyone starts life in their birthday suit, so where's the shame?

3. Off with their head!

A freshly guillotined Marie Antoinette, France's last queen before the French Revolution of 1789, was shown clutching her severed head, singing. "The aristocrats, we'll hang them."

A recently severed Marie Antoinette was shown clutching her severed head, singing, "The aristocrats, we'll hang them." Marie Antoinette was the last queen of France before the French Revolution of 1789.

The image is a bit scary, so I won't put up a picture of it

"... because decapitating Habsburgs and ridiculising central Christian events are really the FIRST two things that spring to mind when you think of # OlympicGames," Eduard Habsburg, Hungary's ambassador to the Vatican, posted on X, also referencing a scene depicting the beheading of Marie Antoinette.

Eduard Habsburg, Hungary's ambassador to the Vatican, posted on X, "...... because when you think of the Olympics, the first thing that comes to mind is the beheading of Habsburg royalty and the mockery of the Christian core." He also mentioned the beheading of Marie Antoinette.

The AP story concludes:

Freedom: does anyone do it better than the French?

I don't know if this is a compliment or a satire.

However, the banter at the beginning of the story is more apt:

Paris: the Olympic gold medalist of naughtiness.

II. Only hours before the opening ceremony, the French high-speed rail network was vandalized (see previous post).

iii. The South Korean team was reported as the North Korean team

Olympic Games organizers said they "deeply apologize" for introducing South Korea's athletes as North Korea during the opening ceremony in Paris. during the opening ceremony in Paris.

Olympic Games organizers said they "deeply apologize" for introducing South Korea's athletes as North Korea during the opening ceremony in Paris.

As the South Korean athletes waved their nation's flag on a boat floating down the Seine River on Friday evening, they were announced in both French and English as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. As the South Korean athletes waved their nation's flag on a boat floating down the Seine River on Friday evening, they were announced in both French and English as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

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