After Euro 2024, fans can expect more sports emotions. The Olympic Games officially began on Friday. The opening ceremony took place on the Seine in Paris, where athletes took part in a ceremonial parade. Each team showed up on its own barge, and between the presentations of the athletes there was a lot of artistic events. A short concert was given by, among others, Lady Gaga and the Pole Jakub Józef Orliński.
Did the French cross the line? These reactions say it all
The artistic part of the opening of the games was not based on musical initiatives alone. The French presented their history and cultural heritage in an original and diverse way. Considerable emphasis was placed on, among other things, the recognition of women who have made outstanding contributions to the country and other national heroes. This year's novelty, however, was the organization of a “fashion show”, during which a very controversial move was decided.
As part of this part of the opening of the Olympic Games in Paris, the painting “The Last Supper” by Leonardo da Vinci was recreated. This work is a realistic vision of the author of the biblical Last Supper, which is why for some it is an important element of Christian heritage. Meanwhile, the arrangement of the “Last Supper” at the Olympic ceremony was very different from the version we know. In this way, they wanted to show respect for differences in gender and culture.
The modern and at the same time controversial recreation of the image caused a huge storm on the web. Especially in right-wing circles, which were outraged and considered the whole happening as a profanation. “They can even disgust the opening ceremony of the Olympics” – thundered Mateusz Morawiecki at X.
“This shows the degeneration of society”, “No, this can't be true”, “What kind of joke is this?”, “What kind of world are we living in now?” – we read in other comments from Internet users.
Some journalists and sports experts also spoke out on the matter. “If the games are supposed to unite and not divide, then unfortunately with such images they have definitely hit the values that are very important to some. I am not a “Catholic nut”, but if such a reference to the Muslim religion appeared, Paris would be burning a few hours later,” noted Maciej Turski from the Sport Channel.
In turn, in counter-attack, Internet users wrote that “it is a simple cultural reference”. “It is simply one of the most iconic images in the history of this globe. No one here spits on the cross, no one insults Catholics”, “And where is the reference to the Catholic religion?” – they wrote in the responses. In any case, the recreation of “The Last Supper” by the organizers of the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris strongly divided public opinion.