The official video of the Paris 2024 Olympics opening ceremony appears to have been deleted from the Olympics account as backlash grows – with fans flocking to praise the London 2012 display, which remains online.
Social media users shared a screenshot of the organization’s video, which showed a blank screen with the caption “this video is not available.”
Meanwhile, the show doesn’t appear to be streaming on their YouTube channel either – despite coverage of the games before and after the ceremony.
And full versions of the ceremonies from London 2012, Rio 2016, Beijing 2022 and even Nagano 1998 are all available.
The move comes after the event was dubbed the “worst ever” and sparked backlash because it took place in appalling weather conditions.
Among the various artistic paintings, bearing the name of French values such as liberty, fraternity and equality, it is the representation of the “Last Supper” type in a “celebration” scene which has aroused the most controversy.
Social media users shared a screenshot of the organization’s video, which showed a blank screen with the caption “this video is not available”
The event was dubbed the “worst ever” and sparked backlash because it took place in appalling weather conditions.
Meanwhile, the show doesn’t appear to be on their YouTube channel either – despite coverage of the games before and after the ceremony
Full versions of the ceremonies from London 2012, Rio 2016, Beijing 2022 and even Nagano 1998 are all available
Bringing together models, dancers, fashion icons and drag queens from the host country, the performance took place on a bridge over the capital’s river, around a table that doubled as a catwalk.
At the center was a woman in front of a DJ set with a golden halo-style crown, 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, while those seated on either side performed carefully choreographed routines.
Among those in attendance was Drag Race icon Nicky Doll, who appeared on the French franchise RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs The World and now hosts the French version.
Although bothered by the hard-to-hear music, many young people and fans of the popular TV show took to social media to praise the tableau, which aimed to echo the atmosphere of a nightclub and featured dancing and lip-syncing on a soaking wet stage.
But others were less impressed, accusing the organisers of creating a “woke” parody of the Last Supper – a painting by Leonardo da Vinci depicting Jesus’ last meal with his disciples.
The opening ceremony was also marred by several gaffes, including problems with country names and the Olympic flag accidentally being flown upside down.
Tesla and SpaceX owner Elon Musk, who has been criticized for his conservative beliefs, including toward his own daughter, wrote on X – formerly Twitter – that the performance was “extremely disrespectful to Christians.”
He added: “Christianity has become toothless.”
French actor and singer Philippe Katerine played the role of the Greek god of wine Dionysus in a reenactment of the famous biblical scene of Jesus Christ and his twelve apostles sharing a final meal before the crucifixion.
The artistic imitation of the Last Supper, which also included a group of drag queens and a transgender model, offended some Christians as a “gross mockery” of the religion.
Representation of the Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci, with Jesus in the center surrounded by his disciples
In response to the event, American Catholic Bishop Robert Barron posted a video online in which he said: “I love the Olympics, so I’m watching 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 gross parody of the Last Supper and I will not describe it further.”
Later in the show, the most bizarre moment of the evening saw a giant tray appear decorated with fake fruit and other food items – with a “Smurf” resting among them.
The man, dressed in a tight blue bodysuit that left little to the imagination, was dressed as the Greek god of wine, partying and theatre, Dionysus, who was later revealed to be French actor and singer Philippe Katerine.
Today he mocked the critics, telling BFM TV: “It wouldn’t be funny if there was no controversy. Wouldn’t it be boring if everyone agreed on this planet?”
Viewers reported poor audio quality caused by the near-torrential rain and even joked online that organizers should “stop the boats.”
Hundreds of thousands of spectators watched 6,800 athletes covered in plastic ponchos try to keep their spirits up as they sailed down the Seine in a huge flotilla of 85 boats.
The performances by Lady Gaga and around 3,000 dancers, acrobats and actors were difficult to hear over the sound of rain, with viewers calling it “the worst Olympic opening ceremony in living memory”.
The show received a mixed reception from the British and foreign press.
The New York Times scathingly called it “a bloated made-for-TV spectacle,” while the New York Post called it “boring, ill-conceived and choppy.”
Even in France, the reception was mixed, with Le Figaro declaring that the show was “great, but sometimes there was too much going on.”
Elon Musk took to X to reveal his displeasure with last night’s ceremony
Elsewhere, US Catholic Bishop Robert Barron criticised the opening ceremony, calling it a “gross mockery” of Christianity.
Gaffes over country names, the editing of the Olympic flag and bizarre scenes showing a headless Marie Antoinette singing marred last night’s show, while the sport begins in earnest this morning.
At one point, as the long line of boats filled with athletes made their way down the Seine, an embarrassing moment saw South Korea labelled North Korea by the commentators.
As the South Korean delegation sailed down the Seine, they were introduced to the official name of North Korea: “Democratic People’s Republic of Korea” in French, then “Democratic People’s Republic of Korea” in English.
The IOC said in a message posted on its official Korean-language account X: “We deeply apologize for the error that occurred during the introduction of the South Korean team during the broadcast of the opening ceremony.”
The Paris Olympics have been contacted for comment.
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