The opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics, held on July 26, 2024, has sparked substantial backlash from commentators and viewers who found several elements of the event inappropriate and offensive.
The ceremony, which was described by organisers as the “biggest in Olympic Games history,” featured an array of performances and acts that many saw as contentious.
The event utilised the Seine River as a grand stage, transforming Paris into a massive amphitheater with a six-kilometer-long “Parade of Nations,” where athletes from 205 countries and a refugee team sailed down the river. Despite the heavy rain, the spectacle attracted over 300,000 spectators along the Seine, with billions more watching globally.
One of the most contentious aspects of the ceremony was a performance by drag queens, which some critics viewed as an endorsement of LGBTQ+ lifestyles and a departure from traditional Olympic values. Critics argued that the Olympics, traditionally a celebration of athletic prowess, should not be used as a platform for political or social statements.
The inclusion of drag queens was perceived by some as an attempt to make a political statement rather than focusing on the athletes and the spirit of competition.
Another highly criticised segment involved a man painted blue and dressed as the Greek god Dionysus, who performed a song during the ceremony. To some conservatives, this was seen as a mockery of religious beliefs and a disregard for the sanctity of the Olympic Games.
Philippe Katerine’s depiction of Dionysus was intended to highlight “the absurdity of violence between human beings,” according to the event organisers. However, many felt it was a blatant insult to certain religious views.
The ceremony also featured a controversial recreation of Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘The Last Supper,’ with drag queens standing in for the apostles. This portrayal was condemned by conservative commentators as a “gross mockery” of Christian beliefs and traditions.
One social media user remarked, “This is crazy. Opening your event by replacing Jesus and the disciples at The Last Supper with men in drag,” adding, “There are 2.4 billion Christians on earth and apparently the Olympics wanted to declare loudly to all of them, right out of the gate NOT WELCOME.”
The event also included depictions of historical and religious figures, such as the beheading of Marie Antoinette and a Golden Calf idol, which further fueled outrage.
Critics labeled the ceremony as “hyper-sexualised” and “blasphemous,” arguing that it crossed boundaries of respect and sensitivity.
“The 2024 Paris Olympics has gone full Woke dystopian,” one critic wrote, referring to the ceremony’s elements as a “mockery of The Last Supper, the Golden Calf idol, and even the Pale Horse from the Book of Revelation.”
Cricket presenter Alan Wilkins was particularly vocal in his criticism, calling the event the “worst ever” opening ceremony. “Absolute garbage to deliver to a global audience,” Wilkins expressed on social media.
Notably, the use of the Seine River as the setting for the ceremony was also criticized by some conservatives, who saw it as a waste of resources and an unnecessary risk to the environment. They argued that the Olympics should be held in a traditional stadium setting, where the focus can be on the athletes and their achievements.
