Organizers of the Paris Olympics have apologized for the offense attributable to scenes through the opening ceremony on Friday night time, which Christians claimed mocked Christianity.
There was a global backlash over a scene with drag queens and a lesbian activist, which was seen by many viewers as a rehash of Da Vinci's The Final Supper. The well-known portray depicts Christ's final meal together with his disciples earlier than his betrayal, trial and crucifixion.
There was additional outrage when French actor and singer Phillippe Katerine appeared scantily clad and painted blue in an outline of the Greek god of wine, Dionysus.
French Catholic bishops stated Christians around the globe have been “wounded by the excesses and provocations of some scenes”. The opening ceremony “sadly included scenes of mockery and mockery of Christianity, which we deeply remorse,” they stated.
Within the UK, Evangelical Alliance CEO Gavin Calver referred to as it “utterly insensitive, pointless and offensive” and stated it was “appalling to see Christianity so overtly mocked on the opening ceremony with an extremely crude depiction of the Final Supper”.
Different British Christian leaders, together with the Reverend Lynda Rose of Voice for Justice UK, referred to as on the organizers to apologise.
Within the US, Catholic Bishop Robert Barron referred to as the scene a “gross mockery of the Final Supper” and questioned why Olympic organizers selected to “mock this very central second in Christianity”.
Speaker of the Home of Representatives Mike Johnson wrote on social media that it was “stunning and offensive” to Christians, and telecommunications supplier C Spire introduced it was pulling its promoting from the Olympics.
Responding to the backlash, Paris Olympics spokeswoman Anne Descamps advised reporters: “It’s clear that there was by no means any intention to point out disrespect to any spiritual group.
“If individuals have been offended in any approach, we're clearly actually sorry.”
Pack reported that it had obtained an announcement from the producers of Paris 2024 stating that the controversial section was impressed by Da Vinci's The Final Supper.
“For the section 'Celebrations' [Paris 2024 artistic director] Thomas Jolly was impressed by Leonardo da Vinci's well-known portray to create the setting,” the assertion stated.
“Clearly, no disrespect to any spiritual group or perception was ever meant… [Jolly] he’s not the primary artist to reference the world-famous art work. From Andy Warhol to 'The Simpsons,' many have completed it earlier than him.”
Jolly denied that the controversial scene was impressed by Leonardo da Vinci's Final Supper. He advised Paris information channel BFM: “The concept was to have a giant pagan occasion related to the gods of Olympus.
“You’ll by no means discover in my work a want to ridicule or denigrate anybody.
He added: “I needed a ceremony that will carry individuals collectively, reconcile, but additionally a ceremony that will affirm our republican values of liberty, equality and fraternity.”
