The opening ceremony for the Paris 2024 Olympics garnered a lot of attention for its innovative approach and ambitious scale. For the first time in Olympic history, the ceremony was held outside a stadium, taking place along the Seine River.
The decision to hold the ceremony outside allowed the French to showcase some of the city’s iconic landmarks. Olympic athletes from over 200 countries were paraded on boats past landmarks such as Notre Dame, the Louvre, and the Pont Alexandre III.
Despite the rain, Lady Gaga, Aya Nakamura and the great Celine Dion, amongst others, gave some great performances.
The organisers leaned into the cliches and stereotypes people hold about the French being risque and avant-garde. However, there has been some confusion and outrage about the ceremony’s cultural elements and performances, with some claiming it was satanic and blasphemous.
Cultural themes
Opening ceremonies are an opportunity to showcase the host nation’s culture, heritage, and artistic achievements. They highlight the unique aspects of the country’s history and traditions, often incorporating performances, music, and art that reflect the national identity. These ceremonies educate a global audience and foster national pride.
Britain’s 2012 ceremony featured the Industrial Revolution, the National Health Service, Britain’s literary heritage, popular music and culture.
Brazil’s ceremony featured presentations on the country’s history and culture, the history of the Brazilian people dating back to the arrival of the Portuguese, Brazillian landscape and forests, music and samba, and favelas.
Tokyo’s 2021 ceremony showcased Japanese popular culture, such as Japanese theatre, video games, and variety shows.
These ceremonies serve as a symbol of global unity and peace. The event promotes international friendship and understanding by bringing together athletes from around the world. The parade of nations, where athletes from different countries march together, embodies the Olympic spirit of unity and diversity.
The torch bearer
In keeping with the Olympic themes, the Paris ceremony featured France’s history and culture. Let’s take a look at the highlights.
We start with the mysterious masked torch bearer. The figure wears a white hood, what looks to be a fencing mask and a dark vest. It has been speculated that the character represents several figures from French history, namely the man in the iron mask, the phantom of the opera, Arsène Lupin, the world-famous gentleman thief and master of disguise, and, of course, Arno, the character from Assasin’s Creed Unity, the video game released by Ubisoft in 2007, which takes place in the early days of the French Revolution.
The mysterious figure first appears as a boat rider before helping a group of three kids transport the torch through the canals. Throughout the show, he (or she) is seen as a parkour expert, climbing rooftops and participating in musical skits and performances.
We see them wander through a performance of Les Miserables, a musical based on the June Rebellion, also known as the Paris Uprising of 1832. This is not to be confused with the French Revolution, which occurred from 1789 to 1799. Those who know history will know French history is riddled with revolutions.
We also see the torch bearer wander through the Louvre, the largest museum in the world. There, we notice that several pieces of artwork, including the Mona Lisa, are missing. We soon discover that the Minions have stolen and lost the famous painting in the River Seienne.
The fate of Marie Antoinette
Many viewers were upset at the depiction of Marie Antoinette. The headless figures depicting the 18th-century Queen Marie Antoinette performed along the Seine river embankment, accompanied by a metal band singing Ça ira, the anthem of the French Revolution. The figures were displayed outside the Conciergerie, the prison where the queen was held captive during the French Revolution before she met her fate.
People were concerned that their children would go to bed with nightmares.
Not the last supper
However, Mary Attoinette’s fate didn’t anger people as much as the fashion show. The catwalk was filled with models and drag queens. It felt very inclusive, with lots of disability representation.
The controversy centres on a performance that some viewers found offensive due to its perceived mockery of Christian imagery, specifically Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper.” The performance featured drag queens and a “naked blue man” played by French actor Philippe Katerine, seated at one side of the catwalk. Many interpreted the imagery as a parody of the biblical scene. This segment sparked significant backlash, particularly among Christian audiences who found it disrespectful and blasphemous.
Critics labelled the performance as satanic and accused the organisers of promoting anti-Christian sentiment. The controversy led to widespread calls to boycott the Olympics. A major US tech company also pulled its advertising from the event in response to the backlash, further amplifying the negative reaction.
Here’s where critics got it wrong: the performance was an interpretation of the festivals of Dionysus (also known as Bacchus), the ancient Greek god of wine, fertility, and theatre. The festivals of Dionysus were significant events in Greek culture, often characterised by elaborate feasts and communal festivities.
Greek mythology has been an integral part of French education for centuries. French schools have traditionally taught Greek myths in literature and history classes as part of their curriculum. These stories have been used to teach moral lessons, cultural values, and classical knowledge, fostering an appreciation for ancient Greek heritage among French students.
The Olympic organisers have defended the performance, explaining that it was intended as an artistic interpretation of the Greek god Dionysus rather than a direct reference to “The Last Supper.” Despite this clarification, the Catholic Church in France condemned the act, and the controversy provoked strong online reactions.
Spirit of the Seine River
The ceremony ended on a high note. As night fell, we saw an armoured rider on a shimmering metal horse galloping down the Seine. The rider represented the Olympic spirit and called for peace and solidarity. It was also a depiction of Sequana.
Sequana is a goddess from ancient Gaulish (Celtic) mythology associated with the Seine River. She is primarily known as a river goddess, embodying the river’s life-giving and purifying aspects.
She was revered as the deity of the Seine River, which was an essential waterway for the Celtic tribes living in the region. Rivers were often worshipped in Celtic cultures for their importance in agriculture and transportation and as sources of life and sustenance.
Sequana’s most famous sanctuary was located at the source of the Seine near modern-day Dijon. This site, known as the “Fontes Sequanae,” was a significant pilgrimage destination where people sought healing. The sanctuary featured a series of springs and a temple dedicated to the goddess.
Many claimed the horse depicted the horsemen of the apocalypse, concluding that the opening ceremony was filled with demonic symbolism.
Very French
The French are known for their high fashion and a love of the arts and entertainment, and that was on full display during the opening ceremony as they leaned into their culture and the cliched-potted history the world has about them.
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