Rain-drenched Paris Olympics opening ceremony split fans as critics blast the £120m epic’s woke nonsense
FRANCE got a battering yesterday over its rain-drenched Paris Olympics opening ceremony — with fans split over the £120million epic.
It was hailed as the “greatest show on earth” by some, with a stunning laser lights display from the Eiffel Tower and Celine Dion praised for her performance.
But critics also blasted it as woke nonsense, with many — including billionaire Elon Musk — furious for the way it parodied the Last Supper.
In a series of gaffes, the International Olympic Committee had to apologise to South Korea for introducing its athletes as being from its hated northern neighbour.
And the Olympic flag was raised upside down, while TV viewers spotted a male dancer in shorts had part of his “lunch box” hanging out.
Other mishaps included a Lady Gaga backing dancer slipping and falling over on stage amid the pouring rain.
SpaceX boss Mr Musk led those unhappy at the French for parodying Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece, which depicts Jesus’s final meal.
The show’s version included drag queens and a near-naked man painted blue.
Mr Musk said: “This was extremely disrespectful to Christians.”
The bizarre scene towards the end of the four-hour show raised eyebrows around the world and triggered fury among Christians.
One angry online post said: “Doing this results in fewer dead people than if the imagery of Islam were mocked.”
France’s Catholic clergy also attacked the ceremony.
The Conference of Bishops said in a statement: “The ceremony unfortunately included scenes of derision and mockery of Christianity, which we deplore very deeply.”
The ceremony was the first ever not to be held in a stadium.
Double Olympic champ Dame Kelly Holmes said it affected the atmosphere.
She said: “The vibe isn’t anywhere near what a normal Olympic ceremony would be. We are seeing it split up over a three-and-a-half-mile stretch, so for me that vibe has not come across at all. Where’s the vibe, the energy, and the excitement?”
6m view opening on BBC1
By Julia Atherley
SOME 6.8 million watched the Olympics opening on BBC One — more than the last two games, figures show.
Viewing between 5.45pm and 10.40pm peaked at 7.9 million, according to the Beeb’s overnight figures,
Some 22.4 million tuned in for the opening of the London Games in 2012.
And this year’s was the first since then that did not suffer from a big time difference.
A peak of 2.3 million watched the Tokyo 2020 opening on BBC which took place during the day in the UK.
There was a four-hour time difference for the 2016 Brazil Games viwed by an average of 3.8 million viewers.
One critic posted online: “It should have been representing the best of France. Instead it was full of debauchery, sexual disorder, and terrible dancing. How embarrassing for Paris.”
Bored online wags also urged “Stop the boats” as 85 barges spent hours carrying 6,800 athletes along the Seine.
Despite all the problems, many praised the ceremony and said Celine Dion’s performance was a highlight — her first since revealing in 2022 she had a rare neurological condition.
French President Emmanuel Macron was full of praise, saying: “Thank you everyone who believed in it. We did it!”
What an eyeful
PARIS’ ceremony blunders included a performer with his “baguette” peeking out his shorts and an upside down Olympic flag.
Others were a dancer who slipped over and an outrageous version of the Last Supper. Sacré bleu!
Volleyball paedo in rape row
By Robin Perrie
FURIOUS campaigners yesterday blasted the International Olympic Committee for allowing a volleyball ace to compete despite a conviction for child rape.
Dutch paedo Steven Van de Velde, 29, was jailed for four years in 2016 for grooming and assaulting a 12-year-old British girl.
After his release, Van de Velde was selected for the Dutch beach volleyball team, which plays Italy today.
Ciara Bergman, CEO of Rape Crisis England & Wales, said: “It sends a damaging message that competing in sports matters more than raping a child.”
The Dutch team said: “He has had treatment.”