Former US President Donald Trump has joined the ranks of critics lambasting the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, expressing his disapproval in a recent interview with Fox News.
I’m very open-minded, but I thought what they did was a disgrace,” Trump told Fox News. The Olympics opening ceremony took place on July 26 and featured a provocative parody of Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper.” This particular segment of the ceremony quickly gained traction on social media platforms, sparking debates both in Russia and abroad.
One notable critic is Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who denounced the ceremony for its apparent lack of culture and public morals in the West. Another influential voice against the event was Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who told the press that “there were some absolutely disgusting moments” during the opening ceremony. He added that it was a shame that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) had given its approval to such content.
According to Peskov, Russian viewers did not see the opening ceremony as their country’s broadcasters opted not to air any events from the Paris Olympics in response to Russian athletes being suspended from participating in the games. This decision was made due to concerns over potential backlash and political ramifications stemming from Russia’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
The Olympic Games, which began on July 26 and are set to run until August 11, have attracted athletes from all around the world to compete in Paris. However, Russian and Belarusian athletes are only allowed to participate as neutrals under certain conditions. They must not be affiliated with any military or law enforcement agencies and cannot represent team sports. Unfortunately for fans of these countries, Olympic competitions will not be broadcasted in Russia as a result of the ongoing suspension imposed on their athletes.
As the world watches the 2024 Olympic Games unfold in Paris, it remains to be seen if there will be more instances of controversy or whether the focus will remain firmly on the exceptional athletic achievements of the participating nations.