Paris 2024 Olympic Opening Ceremony: Harmony of Expression and Belief

The 2024 Olympics in Paris France officially opened. (Instagram @olimpycs)

The opening of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris was expected to be a celebration of world unity through the spirit of competition and friendship. But the event has sparked controversy. When a giant screen showed a scene inspired by the “Last Supper,” the atmosphere turned tense. Protests erupted, calling the segment an insult to Christianity.

The “Last Supper” scene is a famous work of religious art, immortalized in a painting by Leonardo da Vinci. The painting depicts Jesus’ final moments with his disciples before his crucifixion, full of spiritual meaning and symbolism. In Christianity, the Last Supper symbolizes sacrifice and deep love. However, when the scene was presented in a modern form with LGBT symbols, many felt its sacred meaning was ignored.

The opening ceremony, held on the Seine River on the evening of July 26 local time, featured a group of drag queens performing a scene that resembled Leonardo da Vinci’s “Last Supper.” The scene was deemed an “offense to Christianity.” The Conference of Catholic Bishops in France protested, calling the performance blasphemy. Elon Musk and Ryan Garcia, among others, have voiced their displeasure on social media, accusing the opening of being offensive to Christianity and inappropriate for a global event.

However, Thomas Jolly, the Artistic Director of the 2024 Olympic Games and the creator, has insisted that his work was not intended to insult Christianity or disrupt existing and established religious order.

Since its inception in Athens in 1896, the modern Olympic Games have been a symbol of unity and competitive spirit. Thousands of athletes from different countries gather to compete, carrying the hopes and dreams of their nations. The Olympics are not just about winning medals, but also about building friendships and understanding other cultures.

The number of participants in the Olympics continues to grow, reflecting a growing global spirit. The 2024 Paris Olympics will feature more than 200 countries, making it the world’s largest sporting event. Amid this competitive spirit, there should be mutual respect and unity that is upheld.

The controversy that has occurred involves religious symbols and the promotion of LGBT in the scene. For some, this is a reflection of freedom of expression. However, for others, it is an affront to the religious values ​​they hold dear.

On social media, the debate is heating up. Many are questioning how far freedom of expression can be accommodated without ignoring respect for religious beliefs. The organizers of the 2024 Olympics argue that art is part of freedom of expression that must be respected. They strive to create innovative and inspiring performances, although controversy is inevitable.

After the commotion, the organizing committee apologized because the performance was considered offensive to religion. As a global society, we must find a balance between freedom of expression and respect for religious beliefs. Freedom of expression is a basic right that must be protected, but this freedom must not hurt the feelings or belittle the beliefs of others.

The Olympics should be an event to promote positive values, unity, and friendship. This spirit must be reflected in all aspects of the organization, including the opening performance. The controversy over the opening of the 2024 Olympics should be a lesson for us all about the importance of respecting differences and maintaining a spirit of unity.

For Indonesia, the Olympics is not just an event to show off sporting achievements, but also an opportunity to strengthen the nation's identity on the world stage. Indonesia's participation in the Olympics always carries the spirit of "Bhinneka Tunggal Ika" which reflects the diversity and unity of the nation.

The Indonesian contingent, with uniforms designed by Didit Hediprasetyo, son of the elected Indonesian president, Prabowo Subianto, appeared full of pride. The elegant uniform design that reflects Indonesian culture is a manifestation of the nation's identity that they want to highlight on the international stage. Prabowo Subianto's presence at the opening of the 2024 Paris Olympics provides additional encouragement for Indonesian athletes to strive for the highest achievements.

As the competition progressed, the cheers of the audience echoed in the stadiums of Paris. Thousands of athletes from all over the world competed with high spirits, reflecting the Olympic motto: "Citius, Altius, Fortius" (Faster, Higher, Stronger). Every drop of sweat and every heartbeat is proof of sportsmanship and a strong desire to achieve victory.

Behind the controversy that occurred, the Olympics remains the main stage for the spirit of unity and oneness of the world's nations. In the arena of competition, there are no boundaries of religion, race, or orientation. All that exists is the spirit to compete fairly, respect each other, and uphold sportsmanship.

For Indonesia, the spirit of the 2024 Olympics is also the spirit of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika, which reflects unity in diversity. Let us remember that behind every waving flag, there is hope for world unity and peace, as well as the spirit to achieve the best without forgetting the values ​​we uphold.