Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony Performance Draws Criticism

Church Objects to Tableau Depicting The Last Supper

WEB, JULY 28, 2024, 11:00 AM

A performance during the Paris Olympics opening ceremony on Friday has drawn criticism from the church.

The tableau, which evoked Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper," featured 24 actors lying on a table, covered in red sheets. Some of the actors were wearing white tank tops and long shorts, while others were naked.

The performance was intended to depict "the fragility of human life," according to the artistic director, Thomas Jolly. However, the Catholic Church in France has criticized the performance, saying it was "disrespectful" to a religious symbol.

The Paris Olympics organizing committee has apologized to anyone who was offended by the performance, saying that it was not intended to cause disrespect.

The performance has sparked a debate about the role of religion in the Olympics. Some people have argued that the performance was offensive, while others have defended it as a work of art.