Workers dismantle the stands set up for the July 26th opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, on July 28, 2024. (Photo by Valentine CHAPUIS / AFP) |
The organizers of the Paris Olympics expressed their sincere apologies on Sunday for any offense caused by the unconventional and creative opening ceremony. However, they firmly denied any deliberate intention to disrespect any religious group.
Certain Catholic organizations and French bishops have
voiced their disapproval, perceiving “scenes of mockery and ridicule of
Christianity” in the parade on Friday, which was choreographed by theater
director Thomas Jolly.
The primary criticism stems from a particular scene
featuring dancers, drag queens, and a DJ in poses reminiscent of the Last
Supper, the final meal shared by Jesus and his apostles.
“Clearly there was never an intention to show disrespect to
any religious group,” Paris 2024 spokeswoman Anne Descamps told reporters on
Sunday.
“If people have taken any offence, we are of course really,
really sorry,” she added.
Jolly refuted any claims of inspiration from the Last Supper
in his production that spanned nearly four hours and was held along the River
Seine amidst heavy rainfall.
The scene, crafted to foster acceptance of diverse sexual
and gender identities, also featured French actor Philippe Katerine, who
appeared in a state of near nudity, adorned in blue paint, embodying Dionysus,
the Greek deity associated with wine and pleasure.
“The idea was to do a big pagan party linked to the gods of
Olympus,” Jolly told the BFM channel on Sunday.
“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,” he added.
During another memorable moment of the ceremony, a woman
appeared at a window of the Conciergerie holding the bloodied severed head of
the French queen Marie-Antoinette, who was intended to be executed.
This occurred after
she was imprisoned in the building following the 1789 French Revolution.
Eventually, she and her husband Louis XVI were both guillotined. “
Certainly we were not glorifying this instrument of death
which is the guillotine,” Jolly added.
Descamps stated that Paris 2024 had commissioned a poll from
survey group Harris, which indicated that the French people had a very positive
view of the opening ceremony.
NBC, an American broadcaster, reported that the procession
was the most watched start to an Olympics since London in 2012. Meanwhile,
German broadcaster ARD mentioned that it was the most watched in 20 years,
according to International Olympic Committee spokesman Mark Adams.
Around 700,000 spectators are anticipated to attend events around Paris on Sunday, the second full day of the Games.