Thursday, June 12
    CLICK HERE for all posts on this page

    Controversial Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony Faces Backlash

    Top News 4 Mins Read

    Giving us yet another reason to not watch the Olympics. Then they wonder why their ratings are so low.

    Christian figures, including Elon Musk, criticized the Paris Olympics opening ceremony for what they saw as a parody of the Last Supper, compounded by technical glitches and rain-soaked performers, with only Canadian singer Celine Dion salvaging the event.

    The four-hour show faced harsh criticism, with some calling it the ‘worst ever.’ Viewers reported poor audio due to heavy rain, joking online about the need to ‘stop the boats.’

    Around 6,800 athletes, clad in plastic ponchos, tried to maintain a festive spirit while navigating the Seine River in a grand flotilla of 85 boats. Performances by Lady Gaga and roughly 3,000 dancers, acrobats, and actors were drowned out by the rain, leading many to label the event as ‘the worst Olympic opening ceremony in memory.’

    Mistakes like incorrect country names, the misplacement of the Olympic flag, and bizarre performances, including a headless Marie Antoinette, marred the show. However, the most controversial moment was a performance mimicking the Last Supper, part of a tableau named ‘festivité,’ which featured models, dancers, fashion icons, and drag queens around a table on a bridge over the Seine.

    The central figure, a woman with a golden halo-like crown, stood at DJ equipment, surrounded by drag queens and dancers. The performance, intended to echo a nightclub atmosphere, drew mixed reactions. While some praised it on social media, others, including Musk, accused the organizers of disrespecting Christian beliefs.

    Further complicating the event, a giant platter with fake fruits and a ‘smurf’ character, later revealed as French actor and singer Philippe Katerine portraying Dionysus, added to the surreal scenes. Another odd moment featured several headless Marie Antoinettes, evoking a grim chapter in French history, as they sang with severed heads in their laps.

    The ceremony also faced logistical issues, such as the incorrect introduction of South Korea as North Korea, sparking outrage in South Korea. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) apologized, and South Korea’s sports ministry expressed its regret, seeking a meeting with IOC officials to address the error.

    An upside-down Olympic flag further compounded the ceremony’s woes. The event’s sole redeeming feature was a powerful performance by Celine Dion, marking her first live appearance since revealing her battle with stiff person syndrome (SPS). Dressed in a silver gown, Dion sang Edith Piaf’s “L’Hymne A L’Amour” from the Eiffel Tower, moving many viewers.

    Despite the unique open-air format, held along a 6km stretch of the Seine and featuring 160 boats, the ceremony was widely panned. Social media reactions ranged from calling it a disappointing attempt to a bizarre, confusing spectacle, with comparisons to video games and even sarcastic remarks about the rainy weather’s impact on the event.

    Major Points

    • The Paris Olympics opening ceremony faced criticism for a Last Supper-like performance, seen as disrespectful to Christians, with notable criticism from Elon Musk.
    • Technical issues, including rain-drenched performances and poor audio, led many to label the event as the ‘worst ever’ Olympic opening ceremony.
    • The ceremony featured a bizarre array of performances, including headless Marie Antoinettes and a portrayal of Dionysus, causing confusion and negative reactions.
    • An embarrassing gaffe occurred when South Korea was mistakenly introduced as North Korea, prompting an official apology from the IOC and backlash from South Korea.
    • The event’s redeeming moment was Celine Dion’s emotional performance, her first since revealing her diagnosis with stiff person syndrome.

    RM Tomi – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News

    Keep Reading

    Add A Comment

    Leave A Reply