Olympic Organizers Apologize for Opening Ceremony Controversy

Organizers of the Olympic Games have issued an apology following criticism that scenes in Friday’s opening ceremony were offensive to some viewers. A particular sequence, which included drag artists, was criticized by Christian groups for allegedly parodying Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper,” a famous depiction of a biblical scene.

The Catholic Church in France was among the voices expressing concern, stating that the ceremony included “scenes of derision and mockery of Christianity.” Additionally, the U.S. telecommunications company C Spire announced it would pull its advertising from the Olympic Games, citing “shock” at the perceived mockery of “The Last Supper” during the event.

Thomas Jolly, the ceremony’s artistic director, clarified that there was no intention to “mock or denigrate anyone” and explained that the scene was intended to reference pagan gods. “Clearly there was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group,” said Anne Descamps, spokeswoman for Paris 2024, during a press briefing on Sunday. “On the contrary, I think Thomas Jolly did try to intend to celebrate community tolerance. We believe this ambition was achieved. If people have taken any offense, we of course are really sorry.”

Jolly further elaborated in an interview with French broadcaster BFM, saying, “The idea was to do a big pagan party linked to the gods of Olympus. You’ll never find in my work any desire to mock or denigrate anyone. I wanted a ceremony that brings people together, that reconciles, but also a ceremony that affirms our Republican values of liberty, equality, and fraternity.”

The organizers hope the apology will clarify their intentions and foster understanding as the Games continue, emphasizing their commitment to inclusivity and respect for all communities.