Simon O’Connor
Husband, step-father, and longtime student of philosophy and history. Also happen to be a former politician, including chairing New Zealand's Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Committee.
Poor old France. A country once iconic for flair and fashion, faltered on the waters of the Seine River. There were some very lovely and memorable highlights, including seeing and hearing Céline Dion once again and despite her health struggles. But so much fell flat, partly I think because of the choice to host outside a stadium. Somewhat symbolically, this decision showed the opening was more about selective values-promotion than sport.
Of course the most egregious and outrageous part of this opening ceremony was the deliberate and intentional mocking of the Last Supper. As we all know, this a very important moment in Christian history and one beautifully depicted in Leonardo da Vinci’s mural in Milan. That Paris’ Olympic officials thought that a bunch of poor performing drag queens should mock and deride this moment of history and art – in celebration of diversity and inclusion – is mind boggling and hypocritical.
This display of disdain and derision of Christianity was intentional and deliberate. It was no accident. But the contrast between the choreography in Paris and the art of Da Vinci is striking. Da Vinci’s depiction of the Last Supper is as profound as it is beautiful. You do not even have to be Christian to admire the artistry and beauty of what he painted. In contrast, the Olympic rendition was tawdry, tasteless, and just plain terrible. The mural celebrates the good and is beautiful in consequence; the other is ugly and only highlights the opposite of good.
As noted, the director of the opening said the day was also about tolerance and inclusion. This might come as a surprise to all the Christian athletes from around the world and those watching on television. Yet we all know that those who talk of ‘inclusion and tolerance’ only mean of their views. The director and his acolytes heaped scorn on one of the world’s great religions, yet are also part of a cohort that would want you in prison for using the wrong pronoun.
It has to be said that French organisers would not have dared mocked any other religion. In some ways we can take this as a compliment. Christianity has underpinned French culture and civilisation. Notre Dame Cathedral, on the banks of the Seine River on which all the boats travelled during the ceremony, is but one poignant symbol. Yet Christianity is now seen as a direct challenge to the ever-growing absurdity of progressive culture overtaking the West. No matter what you think of Christianity, the alternative on display at the Paris Olympics opening was ugly and a sign of where our cultures are headed.
Let’s be clear, had the Olympics’ organisers mocked Islam, then French cities would now be on fire. The French know all about Islamist violence after Charlie Hebdo and the Bataclan (among many others) and are rightly worried, while strangely continuing to import the problem. It is important to note, however, this is not specifically a French issue. We can just look across the English Channel in recent weeks to see similar inspired violence in Leeds and Manchester – neither reported in New Zealand or in much media at all. Explicit mockery of Christianity is to be celebrated at the Olympics while, simultaneously, other religious-inspired violence is to be ignored.
Speaking of media. I find it fascinating that little has been said or reported about the coordinated attack – hours before the Olympics Opening – on the French train network. This caused significant damage and disruption and, according to French officials (off-record so far), it appears to be the work of far-left activists. Perhaps it does not fit a convenient narrative?
The French flying the Olympic Flag upside down: ironically the international signal for distress!
One final observation about the Paris Olympics. With so much focus on woke concepts, such as equity, inclusion, and tolerance, it seems lost on officials that the Games are about sport, competition, and excellence. Athletes who are there are the best – they compete and train hard – to the exclusion of others. A gold medal is received not because of progressive virtue-signaling, but because you win and are better than everybody else.
This article was originally published on the author’s Substack.
