It appears that the official video of the Paris 2024 opening ceremony has been removed from the Olympic account, as negative reactions from viewers grow. Fans are enthusiastic about the spectacle of London 2012, but the video remains online.
Social media users shared a screenshot of the organization’s footage, which showed a blank screen with the caption “this video is not available.”
The show is also apparently not available on their YouTube channel, despite the fact that there are reports of the games both before and after the ceremony.
Full versions of the ceremonies in London 2012, Rio 2016, Beijing 2022 and even Nagano 1998 are also available.
This came after the event was described as ‘the worst ever’ and sparked outrage as it took place amid appalling weather conditions.
Of the various art representations named after French values such as liberty, fraternity and equality, it was the representation in the style of the Last Supper in the ‘festivité’ or party scene that caused the most controversy.
Social media users shared a screenshot of the organization’s footage, which showed a blank screen with the caption “this video is not available”
It comes after the event was branded the ‘worst ever’ and sparked a backlash for being held amid appalling weather conditions
Meanwhile, the show also appears to be missing from their YouTube channel, despite coverage of the matches both before and after the ceremony.
Full versions of the ceremonies for London 2012, Rio 2016, Beijing 2022 and even Nagano 1998 are all available
The performance, complete with models, dancers, fashion icons and transvestites from the host country, took place on a bridge over the capital’s river, around a table that doubled as a catwalk.
In the center stood a woman with a golden crown in the shape of a halo behind a DJ machine, surrounded by several drag queens and dozens of dancers and performers.
A fashion show featuring clothes designed by some of France’s most promising young designers took center stage, with people on either side performing slick choreographies.
Among those in attendance was Drag Race icon Nicky Doll, who starred in the French franchise RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs The World and now hosts the French version.
Although the popular TV show was also hampered by the music being hard to hear, many young people and fans on social media were full of praise for the scene, which attempted to recreate the atmosphere of a nightclub and featured dancing and lip-syncing on a soaking wet stage.
Others were less impressed, accusing the organizers of creating a “woke” parody of the Last Supper: a painting by Leonardo da Vinci depicting Jesus’ last meal with his disciples.
Tesla and SpaceX owner Elon Musk, who has been criticized for his conservative views, including toward his own daughter, wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that his actions were “extremely disrespectful to Christians.”
He added: ‘Christianity has become toothless.’
French actor and singer Phillippe Katerine played the role of the Greek god of wine, Dionysus, in a reconstruction of the famous Biblical scene in which Jesus Christ and his twelve apostles share a last meal before the crucifixion.
The artistic imitation of the Last Supper, which also featured a group of transvestites and a transgender model, has offended some Christians as a ‘gross mockery’ of religion
Leonardo da Vinci’s depiction of the Last Supper, with Jesus in the center surrounded by his disciples
Responding to the event, US Catholic Bishop Robert Barron posted a video online saying: ‘I love the Olympics, so I turn on the opening ceremony of the Olympics. And what do I see now? It’s in Paris, France, a city I love, I spent three years there as a doctoral student.
“I see this as a gross mockery of the Last Supper and I will not comment further on it.”
Later in the show came the most bizarre moment of the evening: there was a giant bowl full of fake fruit and other food, with a ‘smurf’ in the middle of it.
The man, dressed in a tight blue bodysuit that left little to the imagination, was dressed as the Greek god of wine, merrymaking and theatre, Dionysus. He was later revealed to be French actor and singer Phillippe Katerine.
Today he laughed off the criticism, telling BFM TV: ‘It wouldn’t be fun if there was no controversy. Wouldn’t it be boring if everyone on this planet agreed with each other?’
Viewers reported poor audio due to the near-torrential rain and even joked online that organizers should “stop the boats.”
Hundreds of thousands of spectators watched as 6,800 athletes, dressed in plastic ponchos, tried to keep their spirits up as they sailed down the Seine in a huge fleet of 85 boats.
Performances by Lady Gaga and some 3,000 dancers, acrobats and actors were barely audible over the sound of rain, with spectators calling it “the worst Olympic opening ceremony ever.”
Elon Musk went to X to voice his displeasure over last night’s ceremony
Elsewhere, US Catholic Bishop Robert Barron criticised the opening ceremony for making a “gross mockery” of Christianity
Last night there were blunders with country names, the Olympic flag was raised and bizarre scenes were seen with a headless Marie Antoinette singing. The sport really started this morning.
At one point, as the long line of boats full of athletes made their way down the Seine, there was an embarrassing moment when the announcers renamed South Korea to North Korea.
As the South Korean delegation sailed down the Seine, they were introduced to North Korea’s official name: “Republique populaire democratique de Coree” in French, and “Democratic People’s Republic of Korea” in English.
The IOC wrote in a message on its official Korean-language X account: “We sincerely apologize for the error made in the introduction of the South Korean team during the broadcast of the opening ceremony.”
The Paris Olympics have been contacted for comment.