Joe Yates
Bosses at the Olympics have issued an apology after its Opening Ceremony caused offence to a number of viewers and, in particular, one religious group.
The Paris 2024 Olympics started with a bang on Friday (July 26), and one that inadvertently upset sports fans all around the world.
During the ceremony, there were headless Queen Marie Antoinettes, who ruled France from 1774 to 1793 before she was executed after being convicted of high treason against the French Republic.
This in itself sparked outrage, with some people online claiming it was 'satanic'.
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One user took to Twitter, and wrote: "Dear Normies, You’re probably sat at home, watching the French Olympics thinking what the actual **** is this.
"Well it’s just another a conspiracy playing out in front of your very eyes."
They continued: "The one where we tell you - the World is run by satanic globalists who control everything. These people do very strange sick things & openly worship Satan or a brand of.
"They love showing this fact off. Do you see it yet? They’re not even hiding it."
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But it was what was depicted on the Debilly Bridge over the River Seine that ruffled some feathers.
A man who was almost entirely naked and painted in blue was seen lying across a plate on a dinner table with fruit around him - it was supposed to a portrayal of the Greek god Dionysus, but many believed that it mocked 'The Last Supper', a painting by Leonardo Da Vinci depicting Jesus' final meal with the Twelve Apostles.
The character then broke out in song as people danced around him.
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And Christians across the globe took offence to it with many French Bishops speaking out about it, and people posting online claiming the ceremony was an 'attack on Christianity' and 'Christian values'.
And now, spokeswoman for the Paris 2024 Olympics Anne Descamps has apologised.
Speaking to a group of reporters, she said: "Clearly there was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group."
"If people have taken any offence, we are of course really, really sorry."
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The scene was choreographed by theatre director Thomas Jolly, who told BFM: “The idea was to do a big pagan party linked to the gods of Olympus.
“You’ll never find in my work any desire to mock or denigrate anyone. I wanted a ceremony that brings people together, that reconciles, but also a ceremony that affirms our Republican values of liberty, equality and fraternity."
While speaking about the 'satanic' scenes of the headless former Queen, he added: “Certainly we were not glorifying this instrument of death which is the guillotine."