The official video of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games opening ceremony has been taken down from the Olympics YouTube channel following mixed reactions and criticism of the event.
Metro UK reports that the Paris 2024 Olympic Games kicked off with a grand opening ceremony along the River Seine on Friday, showcasing a blend of French culture, artistry, and athleticism. However, the event has sparked controversy for its bizarre imagery mocking Christians. As controvery began to rage, the video of the opening ceremonies was deleted from the Olympics YouTube channel.
The ceremony featured athletes floating along the Seine, introducing themselves to the world. While this approach drew attention, some viewers found it lengthy and tedious. The event also included appearances by sporting legends such as Zinedine Zidane, Serena Williams, Rafael Nadal, and Nadia Comaneci, adding star power to the proceedings.
What truly caused controversy was the non-sporting performances, which included a fashion show, an interpretation of Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper,” featuring drag queens, and a metal horse galloping down the Seine carrying the Olympic flag. One particularly notable act featured actor Phillippe Katerine as a blue-painted Greek god of wine, Dionysus, emerging from a banquet table.
The ceremony also included a heavy metal performance by the band Gojira, introduced by a headless Marie Antoinette figure. This eclectic mix of performances has garnered both praise and criticism from viewers worldwide.
The removal of the full-length video from the Olympics YouTube channel is surprising, especially considering that ceremonies from previous Olympics, including London 2012, Rio 2016, and Beijing 2022, remain available on the platform.
Some of the criticism focused on religious sensitivities. Elon Musk described the ceremony as “extremely disrespectful to Christians.”
This was extremely disrespectful to Christians
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 26, 2024