PARIS, France. The 2024 Paris Olympics kicked off with an extraordinary Opening Ceremony on Friday, despite hours of rain. The event captivated audiences with its blend of French cultural tributes, modern inclusivity, and spectacular performances by international stars.
The ceremony featured a unique combination of can-can dancers, tributes to French history, acrobatics, drag performances, jet flyovers, and rap music. The highlight of the night was the surprise performances by Lady Gaga and Celine Dion.
Lady Gaga dazzled with her rendition of a French cabaret song, while Celine Dion, performing publicly for the first time in four years due to a neurological disorder, brought the house down with Edith Piaf’s “Hymn to Love” on the Eiffel Tower.
French President Emmanuel Macron officially declared the Games open as the Olympic flame was lit atop a hot air balloon, symbolizing French achievements in science. The flame was carried on a relay that included athletic legends on a boat along the Seine, culminating at the Trocadero with the Eiffel Tower illuminated by lasers and strobe effects.
The ceremony was notable for being the first to take place outside a stadium. Competitors were transported along a nearly four-mile stretch of the Seine on various vessels, including barges and motorboats. This innovative approach showcased a vision of a modern and inclusive France.
Performances included Mali-born singer Aya Nakamura, who faced controversy over her music’s foreign influences but received enthusiastic applause. The ceremony also featured drag queens in a fashion runway show.
The Opening Ceremony faced heightened security measures due to recent arson attacks on French railways. Despite the rain, which led to early exits by some spectators, the event was described as “fantastic” by Paris 2024 organizing president Tony Estanguet.
The Games will continue until August 11, with over 10,500 athletes competing across 329 events. The flame will remain alight from sunset until 2 a.m. local time every day.
Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony: Controversial Drag Queen Performance Sparks Outrage
The 2024 Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony has ignited international controversy with its inclusion of drag queen-themed performances of religious and historical imagery. Among the most debated was a parody of Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper,” featuring drag queens and a large woman in a halo crown.
The ceremony featured numerous performances riffing on French history and culture, including a headless Marie Antoinette singing with her severed head in drag-style makeup. The use of drag queens was a recurring theme, with three drag queens participating as torchbearers in the Olympic relay.
Prominent figures, including Tesla founder Elon Musk, criticized the portrayal as “extremely disrespectful to Christians.” Musk stated, “This was extremely disrespectful to Christians.” NFL player Harrison Butker condemned the display by quoting scripture, “Be not deceived, God is not mocked.”
Ex-transgender influencer Oli London and cultural commentators also voiced their disapproval, with some describing the event as a “long drag show” and expressing concerns over the perceived mockery of Christian symbols.
Despite the controversy, the ceremony proceeded with a grand display of French culture and modern inclusivity. The Paris Olympics will run until August 11, with the Olympic flame burning until the closing ceremony.
Paraluman P. Funtanilla
Paraluman P. Funtanilla is Tutubi News Magazine's Marketing Specialist and is a Contributing Editor. She finished her degree in Communication Arts in De La Salle Lipa. She has worked as a Digital Marketer for start-up businesses and small business spaces for the past two years. She has earned certificates from Coursera on Brand Management: Aligning Business Brand and Behavior and Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content. She also worked with Asia Express Romania TV Show.
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
