The organizers of the Paris Olympics issued an apology on Sunday for any offense caused by their unconventional opening ceremony but denied any intent to disrespect any religious groups.
Some Catholic organizations and French bishops criticized the parade, choreographed by theatre director Thomas Jolly, for what they perceived as mockery of Christianity, particularly a scene with dancers, drag queens, and a DJ in poses reminiscent of the Last Supper.
Paris 2024 spokeswoman Anne Descamps emphasized that there was no intention to offend any religious group.
“If people have taken any offense, we are of course really, really sorry,” she said. Jolly also denied using the Last Supper as inspiration, explaining that the scene was meant to promote tolerance of different sexual and gender identities and featured French actor Philippe Katerine, who appeared almost naked and painted blue as Dionysus, the Greek god of wine and pleasure.
Jolly stated that the goal was to create a “big pagan party linked to the gods of Olympus” and emphasized his desire to foster unity and affirm Republican values of liberty, equality, and fraternity.
Another striking moment in the ceremony involved a portrayal of Marie-Antoinette holding a bloodied severed head, intended to symbolize her imprisonment and execution after the 1789 French Revolution. Jolly clarified that the scene did not glorify the guillotine.
Descamps noted that a survey commissioned by Paris 2024 from Harris showed that the French public overwhelmingly viewed the opening ceremony positively.
The ceremony was also a hit internationally, with American broadcaster NBC reporting it as the most-watched Olympic start since London 2012, and German broadcaster ARD calling it the most-watched in 20 years, according to International Olympic Committee spokesman Mark Adams.
Around 700,000 spectators were expected to attend events around Paris on Sunday, the second full day of the Games.
