The organisers of the Olympics opening ceremony have apologised to religious groups who were outraged by one of the scenes.
Friday’s showpiece event caused plenty of controversy, with criticism flying in for a banquet scene that appeared to resemble Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper painting.
Christian and Catholic religious groups were outraged by the scene featured an actor playing Greek god Dionysus and a table full of drag queens.
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They called the scenes, which was choreographed by theatre director Thomas Jolly, a “mockery of Christianity”.
Paris 2024 spokesperson Anne Descamps said there was no intention to show disrespect and apologised to anyone who was offended.
“Clearly there was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group. (The opening ceremony) tried to celebrate community tolerance,” she said.
“We believe this ambition was achieved. If people have taken any offence, we are really sorry.”
The International Olympic Committee supported the apology.
“The IOC has taken note of and welcomes the clarification given by the Paris 2024 organising committee regarding the opening ceremony,” they said.
“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 that their intention with the opening ceremony was always to celebrate community and tolerance. The organising committee also said that if anyone was offended by certain scenes, this was completely unintentional and they were sorry.”
The incident was just one of a number of blunders from the event.
The final act for the ceremony was ruined when the Olympic flag was hoisted upside down.
South Korea were also left fuming after their delegation of athletes were introduced as North Korea.
As the boat carrying South Korean athletes passed on the Seine, the announcer introduced them as the “Democratic People’s Republic of Korea” – the official name of North Korea – in French and English.
The announcer used the same introduction on Friday when the North Korean delegation passed.
Organisers apologised for the mistake and the IOC president Thomas Bach also promised to meet with South Korea’s leader Yoon Suk-yeol over the incident.
– With AAP
