The 2024 Paris Olympic Games are a global spectacle and a celebration of human achievement and international camaraderie.

However, the grandeur of the event does not make it immune to controversy or error.

The latest Olympic opening ceremony was no exception, as it became the centre of heated backlash from spectators worldwide.

The ceremony, designed to dazzle and unite, sparked outrage among Christian and Catholic religious groups.

The bone of contention was a banquet scene that bore a resemblance to Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper.

The scene featured an actor portraying the Greek god Dionysus, surrounded by a table full of drag queens.

Religious groups condemned the act and called it 'a mockery of Christianity'.

The controversial depiction of The Last Supper earned the ire of religious groups. Image Credit: Getty Images

Theatre director Thomas Jolly, known for his avant-garde approach, choreographed the scene.

While the intention was to celebrate community spirit, the execution struck a chord with viewers who felt their religious beliefs were disrespected.

In response to the uproar, 2024 Olympics spokesperson Anne Descamps extended an olive branch.

'There was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group. The opening ceremony tried to celebrate community tolerance. We believe we achieved this ambition,' Descamps shared.

'If people have taken any offence, we are really sorry.'

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) echoed this sentiment and supported Descamps's apology.

'In the daily press briefing, the organising committee said that there was never any intention to show disrespect towards any religious group or belief,' they reiterated.

'The organising committee also said that if anyone was offended by certain scenes, this was completely unintentional and they were sorry.'

Unfortunately, the banquet scene was not the only mishap that marred the ceremony.

The Olympic flag was hoisted upside down during the opening ceremony's final act, which became the subject of social media chatter.

On the other hand, South Korean athletes experienced an identity crisis after being introduced as the North Korean delegation.

As their boat sailed on the Seine, the announcer referred to them as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea—the official name for North Korea—in both French and English.

The organisers promptly apologised for the mistake.

IOC president Thomas Bach assured he would meet with South Korea's leader, Yoon Suk-Yeol, to address the incident.

These blunders serve as a reminder that even the most meticulously planned events can go awry.

These incidents also highlight the importance of cultural sensitivity and the need to anticipate how global audiences might perceive creative expression.

Key Takeaways

• The 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony organisers issued an apology following backlash from religious groups over a scene resembling The Last Supper.
• Religious groups considered the inclusion of the Greek god Dionysus and drag queens as a mockery of Christianity.
• The 2024 Olympics spokesperson assured that there was no intention to disrespect any religious group, and the ceremony aimed to celebrate community spirit.
• Several other blunders occurred during the opening ceremony, including the Olympic flag being raised upside down and South Korean athletes being introduced as North Korean delegates.

How do you feel about the Olympic Games opening ceremony? We invite you to share your thoughts and insights in the comments section below.

Meanwhile, stay updated with the 2024 Olympic Games and see Australia's standings here.

 

[riskydave]

I think most of them need to get a life, take the mistakes as a bit of humor, they were not catostrophic blunders. Not like taking the Olympic Torch to the wrong venue....LOL!

 

[PARISIENNEINOZ]

The scene was not from The Last Supper. This is the painting: Jan van Bijlert's The Feast of the Gods (1635–40)

 

[gbaerken]

This was the scene that everyone reacted to. I personally fail to see how this celebrates sport in any way shape or form. As per previous opening ceremonies it was in very poor taste.

 

[judybailey]

When did everyone become so precious! People will find fault in absolutely anything these days. Political correctness has gone into overdrive. Perhaps the 'easily offended' need to toughen, enjoy life and stop whining!

 

[Zuki]

i as moved by the scene where our Australian bpy was on an embrace with the Chine gold winner. Such lovely young faces - a promise of tomorrow? Why can’t there be such harmony between people?
i think we need a new movement - a new Lysistrati to change people’s thinking. Come on women, I say.

 

[gbaerken]

When did everyone become so precious! People will find fault in absolutely anything these days. Political correctness has gone into overdrive. Perhaps the 'easily offended' need to toughen, enjoy life and stop whining!

I don't think people are applying political correctness. I for one think these opening ceremonies over the last few Olympics have been piss poor and do nothing to celebrate any sports. I am not offended by them as I choose not to be, I would however be very pissed if I had paid to go to the Olympics and saw this crap.

 

[Zuki]

beautifully said. Total crap.

 

[erina]

The worst I have ever seen, I am 87, it was ridiculous, way over the top,

 

[Zuki]

I agree. Nothing to do with athletics - looked like a shambles of the first degree! And to think France holds the crown for fasion - the mind boggles.

 

[NotNats]

I haven't watch it yet. And by the many comments I haven't missed much.

 

[Quietkate]

To me it was one of the worst I have seen, as a Christian I was offended

 

[Gil]

Every athlete completely missed the essence of the Olympics during the opening ceremony. EVERY Olympics opening ceremony in history culminated with the athletes marching into the stadium. The stadium where a large portion of the Olympics would occur, including the closing ceremony. Paris, in their profound wisdom decided to have the opening ceremony in boats travelling down the septic Seine. Easy to say: It was a shitty opening ceremony.

 

[Winks]

I am astounded at the amount of money spent on these events, when there are millions of homeless & starving people in the world. The governments should rein in their spending on rubbish like this & redirect it to where it is really needed.
As for the ceremony, I didn’t see it. People are way too precious these days & there are far more important things to be concerned with.

 

[Gil]

I wonder what will happen if ANY ONE contestant, male or female, from the Triathlon yesterday, gets ill from swimming in the Septic Seine. After all, it was not by volunteering to swim, but by it being made compulsory if you are in the field of contestants and wish to compete.
Yes, you could say NO I refuse to swim, however this eliminates you from maybe a once-in-a-lifetime event that you may have been preparing for, for many years. Either way, there could be grounds for an athlete to take it a lot further, whether it be for falling ill, or for being denied to chance to compete.
I understand that all competitors were given injections and medications in an attempt to keep them relatively safe.
Paris has spent 2.5 Billion Euro trying to clean up the Seine for the Olympics, however it must be noted that it is still against the law for anyone to swim in the Seine.

 

[DerekKMartin]

Well I'm offended as they did a disservice to my god Dionysus

 

[Ebby]

I wonder what will happen if ANY ONE contestant, male or female, from the Triathlon yesterday, gets ill from swimming in the Septic Seine. After all, it was not by volunteering to swim, but by it being made compulsory if you are in the field of contestants and wish to compete.
Yes, you could say NO I refuse to swim, however this eliminates you from maybe a once-in-a-lifetime event that you may have been preparing for, for many years. Either way, there could be grounds for an athlete to take it a lot further, whether it be for falling ill, or for being denied to chance to compete.
I understand that all competitors were given injections and medications in an attempt to keep them relatively safe.
Paris has spent 2.5 Billion Euro trying to clean up the Seine for the Olympics, however it must be noted that it is still against the law for anyone to swim in the Seine.

l'm not Russian but l thought their hosting of the Olympic Games in 1980 was the best and the music superb.

 

[Barbara V]

I don't think people are applying political correctness. I for one think these opening ceremonies over the last few Olympics have been piss poor and do nothing to celebrate any sports. I am not offended by them as I choose not to be, I would however be very pissed if I had paid to go to the Olympics and saw this crap.

Yes I was very disinterested found most of it pretty long drawn out so switched channels

 

[Mrtnst]

The scene was not from The Last Supper. This is the painting: Jan van Bijlert's The Feast of the Gods (1635–40)

Incorrect, this is Bijlert's painting.
You can clearly see the difference.

There is no 'Feast (or Banquet) of the Gods' paintings that are similar enough to be the inspiration for the Olympic presentation ahead of Da Vinci's 'The Last Supper.'

Though I am an atheist myself, I found the presentation appeared grossly insensitive toward Christians.

I can not see how any artistic director would have been unaware of this.

 

[maschiavone]

When will Australians learn that Catholics are Christians! You would have been better to write Catholics and Protestants or simply just Christians.

This may have also been a misinterpretation of the depiction as I don't recall the announcers saying it was a scene from The Last Super.