The organizers of the Paris Olympics have issued an apology for any offense caused by the opening ceremony, which some Catholic groups and French bishops have condemned for its perceived mockery of Christianity.
The ceremony, choreographed by theatre director Thomas Jolly, featured a scene with dancers, drag queens, and a DJ in poses that resembled the Last Supper, which sparked criticism. However, Jolly denied taking inspiration from the Last Supper, stating that the scene was intended to promote tolerance of different sexual and gender identities.
“We are really, really sorry if people have taken any offense,” said Paris 2024 spokeswoman Anne Descamps. “Clearly, there was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group.”
Jolly added that his goal was to create a ceremony that brings people together and affirms French Republican values of liberty, equality, and fraternity.
Despite the controversy, the opening ceremony was widely watched, with NBC reporting it as the most watched start to an Olympics since London in 2012. Around 700,000 spectators are expected to watch events around Paris on Sunday, the second full day of the Games.
The organizers have commissioned a poll, which showed that French people were overwhelmingly positive about the opening ceremony. However, some groups have continued to express their disappointment and offense at the perceived mockery of Christianity.
