Paris 2024 organiser Anne Descamps has issued an apology to Catholics and other Christian groups following controversy over religious depictions in the Olympic Games' opening ceremony.
The performance, featuring a reinterpretation of Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper with drag queens, a transgender model, and a singer dressed as the Greek god of wine, stirred significant backlash.
The organizers explained that the parody, set against the backdrop of the River Seine, was meant to represent Dionysus and highlight "the absurdity of violence between human beings." Despite this explanation, the performance was met with strong disapproval from Catholics, Christian groups, and conservative politicians worldwide.
In a press conference on Sunday, Descamps addressed the controversy, apologizing for any offense caused and clarifying that the ceremony was intended to "celebrate community tolerance." She emphasized that there was no intention to disrespect any religious group. "Clearly there was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group," she stated. "On the contrary, I think Thomas Jolly did try to celebrate community tolerance. We believe this ambition was achieved, and if people have taken any offense, we are really sorry."
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) also commented on the issue. In a statement, the IOC noted that it welcomed the Paris 2024 Organising Committee's clarification. The committee reiterated that the Opening Ceremony was meant to celebrate community and tolerance and that any offense caused by certain scenes was entirely unintentional.
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