The 2024 Olympic Opening Ceremony disappointed spectators all over the world. What is supposed to be a celebration of global unity turned into a controversial and disappointing performance. The creative team of the opening ceremony should have stuck to traditional themes in the opening ceremony that would have pleased viewers around the globe.
One of the most concerning parts was the explicitness and religious insensitivity of some moments in the event. This includes what is said to be an interpretation of the “Feast of Dionysus” artwork by Jan Joseff Horemans that was interpreted by some as a mockery of Leonardo Da Vinci’s “The Last Supper”, which depicts Jesus and his twelve disciples. The focal point of the Olympic presentation included a man painted entirely blue, lying on a table with almost no cloth-
ing on. This was quickly criticized by people and organizations around the world including the French Catholic Church.
“We are thinking of all the Christians on every continent who have been hurt by the outrageousness and provocation of certain scenes,” the Catholic bishops of France said.
Even if the scene was truly inspired by Jan Joseff Horemans “Feast of Dionysus,” the creative team of the Olympic Opening Ceremony should have been more cautious when planning. If they had gotten perspectives from a wider range of people it would have avoided misinterpretation and scandals with organizations and people involved in the Olympic Games.
“C-Spire is supportive of our athletes who have worked so hard to be a part of the Olympics,” C-Spire said on their X account, “However, we will not be a part of the offensive and unacceptable mockery of the Last Sup- per, which is why we’re pulling our advertising from the Olympics.”
Another common complaint of the ceremony was the sheer dreariness experienced by spectators attending the ceremony in person. With tickets ranging from $167 to upwards of $5900, viewers were displeased with the event, as all they got to see were boats of athletes passing by. Many in attendance took to social media to express their discontent.
“The opening ceremony was a true reflection of Paris: overhyped, underwhelming, disappointing and not to be repeated,” said a commenter under a video shared on instagram by Parisian photographer Raphael Metivet.
“Television versus reality I guess,” said Metivet in the caption of the video, “None of the dancers or singers you saw on television were on the Seine, there was no animation except the fountain show, we saw the athletes passing in front of us on a boat and that is it. People left before the end of the ceremony because there was nothing happening,”
The Olympic Opening Ceremony as a whole did not compare to the wonders of past ceremonies. It was bland and did not live up to the high expectations people had when the concept of an unconventional ceremony was proposed. In many cases tradition is there for a reason, and this year’s Olympic Opening Ceremony is certainly an example.
