Opening ceremony continues to overshadow Paris Games

Theodora Gkountoura, holding her Greek fencing mask, reached the quarterfinals of the Women’s Sabre event in Paris on Monday. However, the Greek champion, No 6 on the tournament table, was eliminated later in the day after losing 15-13 in an epic match with the French Manon Apithy-Brunet (No 3). Three days after their launch, the Paris Games were still overshadowed by the controversy over the opening ceremony. Was the performance offensive or simply incoherent? A major issue of contention was a controversial scene featuring drag queens that was seen as offensive to Christians and others. Thomas Jolly, the artistic director of the 2024 Olympics opening ceremony, has denied it was inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s “Last Supper,” the iconic Renaissance painting depicting Jesus’ last meal with the 12 apostles. “The opening ceremony offered the whole world wonderful moments of beauty and joy, rich in emotions worldwide. But, unfortunately, the same ceremony also included scenes of mockery of Christianity for which we are deeply saddened,” said Greek Archbishop Ieronymos.