Criticism of the Paris 2024 Olympics opening ceremony has mounted, leading to the official video of the ceremony being removed from the Olympic Games “YouTube” channel, while clips from previous editions remain available to watch.
The ceremony, held on June 26, was marred by a series of gaffes and controversial moments, including the Olympic and Korean flags being raised upside down, and rainy weather conditions prompted many attendees to leave the event early.
The Paris video was removed without official explanation from the relevant authorities, despite the availability of recordings of previous opening ceremonies such as the London 2012 and Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympics. Neither the International Olympic Committee nor the Games organizers responded to requests for comment from the media to explain the removal.
International newspapers such as the” New York Times” described the ceremony as “exaggerated,” while the “New York Post” found it boring and disjointed.
Much of the controversy centered around a performance by dancers replicating Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper,” which included references to the LGBT community, sparking sharp criticism in France and abroad as an intervention into a sensitive and controversial issue. Most of the criticism focused on the idea that the dance performances undermined religious values, while others argued that the event was being exploited for political purposes. Artistic criticism also spoke of the lack of unity and coherence in the performances, as the concert was scattered and incoherent.
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