Even in their so called apology or explanation it just came off hypocritical. 

Like they were going for shock value instead of highlighting what makes French culture unique.

My fear, is if this really is French culture... It's not something to be proud of or a good model for the rest of the world to see.

I've been seeing some TV vs Real world footage and it seems to be disappointing quite a few locals so far with the Olympic experience.

Oh, c'mon, that was the best part. Y'all are too sensitive sometimes...

Well yes, it was about the French revolution. Getting rid of the monarchy.

Anyway shock value is part of French culture. See Delicatessen for example.

Whatever it all was, chaotic and technical issues included, it was definitely unapologetically French.

Except it wasn't.

What was portrayed wasn't The Last Supper, but The Feast Of the Gods (a painting that is owned by the French Government unlike The Last Supper, which is in Italy), hence why Dionysus (Or Bacchus for the Romans, it's pretty much the same guy) also appeared in that segment, and Drag queens could be realistically replacing the Satyrs.

Also funny when Frenchmen make a satire of the Last Supper, conservatives are up in arms against it but if it's some shows like the Simpsons, South Park or even Movies and TV series, nobody bats an eye.

Hey French leftist perspective here:

The show made me proud to be French. It is better enjoyed with the commentary from one of the organizers which can be found on France2 replay. You'll have to listen to the geopolitical comments made about the different delegations which is pretty funny sometimes if you don't take it too seriously.

So the first person holding the torch is Jamel Debouze who is a famous french comedian. The segment with Zidane speaks for itself, Zidane is a monument of French soccer. Then you have the Paris Metropolitan:

"It would be unfair to remember the Paris metro, one of the oldest in the world, only for the exhausting weeks of strikes last winter or the numerous incidents that continue to disrupt the journeys of Parisians. There are many reasons to celebrate this network, embedded in a vast system of logistical equations. Starting with its density: 302 stations, on average less than 600 meters apart."

Then the three kids are going through the famous Paris crypt. Some of it is flooded, some of it is uncharted, people have died exploring it: https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&sca_esv=ac57164e41e9010e&sca_upv=1&sxsrf=ADLYWIK70sqZt1CC-k2rP4mEFxbPO8W1Wg:1722336335983&q=paris+crypt&udm=2&fbs=AEQNm0B50Q_g0MhZhYryQ4CEBoMvfpmv2iw8N_G4VUW6cDc3-o2d6Qj30R5by82NbzezhclraO8YNsfvgaF26ZkMoi2Md4g-E31NTZGfekS0mMd6wNuTXOqYHK05BXqLfkyhF6uw9ddZKrMEMic-rLGqbJrJsTgA8NvDc5WbS8SmDfr-VIoagC5ZCcBKEqTocSb1wrPvFfHQ&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiKr_Xrys6HAxUY0QIHHcPCC3kQtKgLegQIGRAB&biw=1600&bih=765&dpr=1.2

The torch bearer is a reference to multiple French figures: The man with the Iron Mask, Arsene Lupin, The fantom of the opera, Fantomas, the Assassin of Ubisoft's Assassin's creed. Under the first bridge there is a water curtain to symbolize the theater world and the Blue White and Red explosion doesn't need to be explained. For the occasion the bridge was decorated with sports and theeater references.

The guy playing the accordion is a cliché of French parisian ambiance. Lady Gaga was the first reference to the Burlesque which is a cornerstone of French international culture.
The part about French clichés was funny. I would have loved to be the Croissant man haha

The Cancan show was not perfectly synchronized by choice: It was a popular dance which was used as a symbol of anti clerical and anti patriarchal courage of French women and also was used as a tool of seduction. It is not mean't to be ultra synchronized alla Moulin rouge BUT the dresses are going to be used by the dancers of the Moulin rouge
(Also it was live under the rain).

There was an hommage to French workers and handicraft who are building Notre-dame and who are making France proud all year long with their Craftmanship. To the luxe which is a big French industry. There was an explanation that medals have a small bit of the Eiffel tower in them.

The torch bearer was going around some of the most famous building in Paris and there was a reconstitution of Freedom guiding people (La libérté guidant le peuple).

Yes Marie Antoinette was horrible and Monarchy is contrary to freedom and equality. Our republic finds its root in 1789 and in the French revolution. The Gojira bit made me proud because it reminded the world that France's root is in our values of equality. (And the music was awesome).


The love part was so French. It was referencing the lover's triangle which is a stereotype of French theater and litterature. You even call it Menage à trois. Also, it was celebrating litterature in the Bibliothéque Nationale de France and it was celebrating that all love is beautiful (Yes inclusion of LGBTQIA people too) (the organizer had a looooot of emotion in her voice saying that all love is welcome and all identities).

Then the Patrouille de France drew a giant heart in the sky of Paris which was so french !

The republican garde (composed of professional military musicians) then made a show with a popular teenager pop star Aya Nakamura. She is popular in our "bad neighboorhoods so it mixed both the military and old school France with the more urban culture. I felt proud to see two world mixed and united.

The torch bearer went on to show some of the most amazing art in the louvre. The bit with the minion is because Illumination (Super Mario Bros and Minions) is in Paris. At the same time the heads of famous paintings were appearing from the seine. During the space exploration bit they spoke about Le Petit Prince and the Ariane (French rocket)

The person who sang the Hymn... was incredible. I've never felt so moved listening to the French hymn. The 10 statues are statues of very important figures of French feminism and or Sports. The statues are offered to the city of Paris. Some of these are going to be very important places to visit in the future. Stay tuned for part 2

In the second part a rapper sang about peace sport and France ! Then there was a big reference to the feasts of ancient greece with Drag Queens. Ru paul's drag race is very en vogue in France and https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drag_en_France you can read this about the history of French drag culture.

The rundown is obviously about the Paris Fashion Week. There was a reference to french clubbing. Philip Katerine is a very famous man.

He was paid 200 € for this performance saying that he did it only because he wanted to speak about peace to the whole world in this peculiar time:

https://www.paroles.net/katerine/paroles-nu-traduction

The man has pretty absurdist songs such as "laissez moi manger ma banane" (let me eat my banana) or Liberté mon cul (Freedom my ass). Then back to clubbing.

The piano on fire on water was incredible. I was kind of sad that the song was Imagine. Yes France is international but there was so many songs about peace that we could have chosen in english. The point is to speak about the French diplomacy effort for peace and to promote peace as a valuable goal for all nations through the Olympic fire.

I loved the rider in the night. Riding on the seine. The effect could have been better but it was incredible still. We honored Pierre de Coubertin and the history of the olympics. The rider represented Jeanne D'arc and other figures of feminine courage stayed in anonymity.

The show ended in a very high note. Giving the torch to Nadal as a symbol of Paris's tennis. The light show was insane and the rain only made it look 100000 times better. Then the last part was about the biggest French olympian and sport figures. Seeing the olympic fire flying in the sky of paris is also insane.

And then the climax: Céline Dion live from the Eiffel tower. Chef's kiss.

85 percent of French people were satisfied and liked the ceremony and a loooooot of people were happy to see it after a divisive electoral period.

I skimmed around and I felt strong emotions of pride and national unity.
I'm glad to be French. I'm not sorry that we are a strange folk. :D

This. France literally had a revolution to remove the monarchy.

The UK should do the same but without the bloodshed

It's funny cause I was watching BBC at the time and literally as it happened, BBC was like "ah yes, this is The Feast of the Gods and this is the Greek God Dionysus" so I'm not sure if they were informed beforehand or they are just smarter than American media, meanwhile I look over at America and they're up in arms about how it's mocking Christianity, Lol.

A lot of Europe isn't as religious as America is...

It was a woke demonic joke mocking god disgusting compared to the one in the 90s idk what's going on man but as a Christian that was a slap to the face

But it wasn't even about Christianity what are you on about ?

i guess him and me could kiss a hairy french lady, i mean to settle this in a more enjoyable way.  And if this ceremony can be ridiculous then I can just as well.