THE Paris Summer Olympics has drawn ire from millions around the world for the blasphemous misrepresentation of the Last Supper, an event revered by Christians for its solemnity and gravity.
The French, being creative and fashionable people, could have drawn much inspiration from a wide variety of themes including memorable moments of Olympic history to depict during the opening extravaganza.
It has been a century since France hosted the Summer Olympics in 1924. Instead, the Paris Olympics will be remembered for the depravity which featured a lot of blasphemous and vulgar scenes that shocked viewers hoping for the usual entertaining and awe-inspiring opening ceremony normally associated with the Olympics.
French and European history is replete with great inspiring episodes which could have been cast as a theme for the tableau.
Instead, they put up a what many have described a “pornographic” show that had marred the whole quadrennial multi-sport event.
Famous Bollywood actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut has termed it as the sexualisation of the Olympics while the head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, who is normally vocal on many issues has chosen to remain silent over this blasphemy.
Many advertisers and sponsors have withdrawn, and it will affect the revenue that will be used to cover the expenses of hosting. There is also talk of a boycott of the Olympics underway.
The French are more open and liberal especially on sexual matters and therefore were unaware of the furore it will cause to other more conservative communities.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) needs to have a greater say in organisational matters and not let the host country a free rein that could lead to polemics and cast a negative image of the much appreciated Olympic games.
At a time of heightened religious, racial and ethnic tensions, the IOC needs to be careful about the content matter that will be displayed during the Olympics.
The Paris Olympics Committee has apologised to all those who were offended by the drag parody of the Last Supper. The Olympics is the celebration of the physical and mental prowess of humans, not anything sexual!
The French organisers and those associated with the Olympics have been roundly condemned by not only Christians but also followers of other faiths for the blatant vulgarisation of a solemn event.
Those who acted and were involved in the making of the tableau must have been aware that this kind of depiction will lead to controversy and criticisms.
To give an excuse that the tableau reflected ancient Greek history – that it was Dionysus the Greek God of wine, fertility and ecstasy and not the Last Supper – is taking the people for a ride.
The opening ceremony was equally unexpected and surprising as the participating 10, 500 athletes were taken in a boat parade instead of a more lively and colourful march past in the stadium.
The Paris Olympics has become lacklustre due to the Last Supper controversy, a myriad political problems and protests in the run up to the Olympics as well as incidences of sabotage, vandalism, terror threats, power cuts and others.
Possibly, there is no way the Paris Olympics can go down in history as an Olympics to remember for the right reasons. It is hoped that the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles will bring back the glory. – Aug 5, 2024
V. Thomas is a Focus Malaysia viewer.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
Main image credit: Sky News Australia
