The cultural references in the Olympic Opening Ceremonies, explained (2024)

FAQs

What did the Olympics opening ceremony represent? ›

French director Thomas Jolly, who oversaw the opening ceremony show, explained that the scene was Dionysus arriving on a table and that it was meant to be representative of the gods of Olympus celebrating the Olympic Games.

During a tableau, drag queens and dancers lined a long table in an image that sparked controversy, some initially believed resembled Leonardo da Vinci's “The Last Supper” portrait of Jesus Christ and his 12 apostles.

In accordance with current Olympic protocol, the opening ceremony typically begins with the entrance of the host nation's head of state or other representative, and the president of the IOC followed by the raising of the host nation's flag and the performance of its national anthem.

The purpose of the Opening Ceremony is to introduce the nations and the athletes that will be participating in the days to follow.

The Olympic symbol (the Olympic rings) expresses the activity of the Olympic Movement and represents the union of the five continents and the meeting of athletes from throughout the world at the Olympic Games. But watch out, it is wrong to say that each of the colours corresponds to a certain continent!

But the opening ceremony's artistic director, Thomas Jolly, has insisted that the scene is not a reference at all to the Last Supper. Rather, the performance is a nod to a pagan celebration featuring Dionysus, the Greek god of fertility, wine and revelry.

Olympics artistic director Thomas Jolly spoke to French outlet BFMTV after the opening ceremony and denied that “The Last Supper” even served as a reference. Instead, Jolly said the idea was to “have a grand pagan festival connected to the gods of Olympus” as the tableau prominently featured a version of Dionysus.

The organizers behind the Paris Olympics apologized to anyone who was offended by a tableau that evoked Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper" during Friday's opening ceremony and provoked outrage by religious conservatives around the world. The organizers, however, defended the concept behind it.

At the helm was creative director Thomas Jolly, an accomplished French theater director who envisioned the banks of the Seine River as the focal point, with athletes from around the world sailing down its waters and a series of al fresco stages along the way, including on the bridges.

Why do Olympics start before opening ceremony? ›

Starting events before the official opening ceremony is a common practice, particularly for football, due to the physical demands of the sport. Teams cannot play matches every day, so scheduling them in advance ensures at least 48 hours of recovery time between games.

Olympia was the most important sanctuary of the god Zeus, and the Games were held in his honour. Sacrifices and gifts were offered, and athletes took oaths to obey the rules before a statue of Zeus.

The Chinese team is at the center of a controversy that's roiled international sport following revelations that nearly half the group Beijing sent to the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, including Zhang, had months earlier tested positive for a banned performance enhancing substance.

The ceremonies combine ritual elements from the Olympic Charter (the rules and principles of the International Olympic Committee) such as the athletes' parade and the raising of the Olympic flag, and cultural performances designed by national organisers.

The Olympic flame is the flame which is kindled in Olympia under the authority of the IOC. In the context of the modern Games, the Olympic flame is a manifestation of the positive values that Man has always associated with the symbolism of fire and thus makes the link between the ancient and the modern Games.

A banquet sequence featuring drag artists in particular came in for criticism from Christian groups, who felt it parodied Leonardo da Vinci's painting 'The Last Supper'. That famous 15th Century work depicts a key biblical scene.

Olympics artistic director Thomas Jolly spoke to French outlet BFMTV after the opening ceremony and denied that “The Last Supper” even served as a reference. Instead, Jolly said the idea was to “have a grand pagan festival connected to the gods of Olympus” as the tableau prominently featured a version of Dionysus.

The opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics has drawn significant backlash for its depiction of Leonardo da Vinci's painting "The Last Supper" with a "drag queen" performance, which many view as disrespectful to religious beliefs.