![Upset bishops and mixed reviews for Paris Olympics ceremony](https://www.berlinertageblatt.de/media/shared/articles/c8/7d/79/Upset-bishops-and-mixed-reviews-for-812822.jpg)
-
Venezuela says presidential opposition candidate has left country
-
Women ride Pakistan's economic crisis into the workplace
-
Wallabies 'fell of cliff' in loss to Pumas, says coach Schmidt
-
Child abuse scandals hang over pope's East Timor visit
-
Manhunt underway in US after Kentucky highway shooting
-
Biden team, end in sight, keeps hope on Gaza truce despite setbacks
-
Sabalenka dedicates US Open to family 'who never gave up' on dream
-
Venezuela takes diplomatic jab at Brazil in spat over election
-
Multiple people shot along highway in US state of Kentucky
-
'Super proud' Sabalenka downs Pegula to win US Open thriller
-
In Papua New Guinea, Pope holds mass 'at the edge of the world'
-
Hewett stays positive for wheelchair tennis despite agonising defeat
-
Three things on US Open champion Aryna Sabalenka
-
Sabalenka downs Pegula to win US Open thriller
-
USA men land Paralympic basketball three-peat, Jiang takes 7th swim gold
-
USA slump to first home defeat against Canada in 67 years
-
Argentina hand Australia record 67-27 loss in Rugby Championship
-
England impress on Carsley bow, Germany, Dutch hit five
-
AFP photographer wins top prize for Gaza coverage
-
No Love for Packers for three weeks after ligament sprain: reports
-
Pedro Almodovar: chronicler of modern Spain crowned in Venice
-
Almodovar wins top Venice prize for end-of-life film
-
Trump sounds dark tone at rally, Harris 'ready' for debate
-
Wirtz and Musiala dazzle to kick-start new Germany era
-
Chinese teenager takes 7th gold of Paris Paralympics
-
England interim boss Carsley 'respects' divided opinions over anthem
-
Neuville moves to the front in the Acropolis Rally
-
Garfield, Pugh charm Toronto in new romance 'We Live in Time'
-
21 boys confirmed dead in Kenya school inferno
-
Over 100,000 protest in France against new prime minister
-
Golden 30 minutes takes China to swimming Paralympics swimming domination
-
Green leads Australia to T20 series sweep of Scotland
-
Nigeria, Cameroon win afer chaotic AFCON build-ups
-
Nicole Kidman: A-lister, cinematic chameleon, wins in Venice
-
'I had to prove myself', says Kolisi after win against All Blacks
-
Almodovar wins top prize at Venice film festival
-
Grealish savours England redemption after 'worst summer'
-
Carsley makes flying start as England interim boss in win over Ireland
-
Springboks close on Rugby Championship with storming win over All Blacks
-
Sri Lanka's De Silva and Kamindu Mendis defy England in third Test
-
Farrell's Racing lose on opening day of Top 14
-
Ireland and UK to 'reset' relations as Starmer visits Dublin
-
Dunbar takes second Vuelta stage as Roglic closes in on victory
-
Fritz eyes US Open glory to end 21 years of American hurt
-
Thousands protest in France against new prime minister
-
Death toll from Kenya school blaze rises to 21
-
Brazil's right rallies for 'freedom' after X suspended
-
Trump to hold rally in swing state, Harris preps for debate
-
Stone at the double as Sri Lanka collapse against England in third Test
-
French tennis player takes legal action over online abuse
![Upset bishops and mixed reviews for Paris Olympics ceremony](https://www.berlinertageblatt.de/media/shared/articles/c8/7d/79/Upset-bishops-and-mixed-reviews-for-812822.jpg)
Upset bishops and mixed reviews for Paris Olympics ceremony
French bishops complained on Saturday about the "scenes of derision and mockery of Christianity" during the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games which has upset some conservatives and has drawn mixed reviews.
The opening had offered "wonderful moments of beauty, joy, rich emotions, and was universally praised," a statement from the French Bishops' Conference said.
"However, this ceremony unfortunately included scenes of derision and mockery of Christianity, which we deeply regret," the bishops said.
While they did not refer to specific scenes, the ceremony featured a segment entitled "Festivity" which began with a group sat at a table, including several drag queens, which was reminiscent of the Last Supper, the final meal Jesus is said to have taken with his apostles.
It was set to music by lesbian activist DJ Barbara Butch.
"We think of all Christians across the continents who were hurt by the excesses and provocation of certain scenes. We hope they understand that the Olympic celebration extends far beyond the ideological biases of a few artists," added the bishops.
The statement was co-signed by the "Holy Games", a sports programme funded by the Catholic church.
Some conservative and far-right politicians in France have also expressed outrage over what they criticised as a "woke" parade, which featured LGBT+ performers and a racially diverse cast.
The four-hour ceremony took place under driving rain, with athletes sailing down a six-kilometre (four-mile) stretch of the river Seine on 85 boats.
Entertainers performed from river-side monuments, the banks and on bridges.
"To all Christians worldwide who watched the opening ceremony and felt insulted by this drag queen parody of the Last Supper, know that it is not France speaking, but a leftist minority prepared for any provocation," far-right politician Marion Marechal wrote on X.
A spokesman for France's far-right National Rally party, Julien Odoul called the ceremony "a ransacking of French culture."
Arch-conservative Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban meanwhile railed against the "weakness and disintegration of the Western world" which he said was illustrated by the opening ceremony.
"Western values were considered for a long-time as universal but are seen as increasingly unacceptable and rejected by many countries in the world," Orban said in Romania.
Show artistic director Thomas Jolly, who is gay, had pledged last week that the ceremony would celebrate "diversity" and "otherness."
Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, he said that his intention had not "been to be subversive or to shock."
"Last night it was about our Republican values of benevolence and inclusion," he told reporters.
"In France, you have the right to love as you like, who you like. In France, you can believe (in religion) or not believe. In France, we have lots of rights," he added.
- Bloated? -
Reviews of the parade have been mixed.
The quirky and high-kitsch parade which also featured ballet, opera and hard-rock has been broadly hailed in the French media.
Sports newspaper l'Equipe said it had "left memories for a century."
But writing in Britain's The Guardian newspaper, reviewer Arifa Akbar said there were some "thoroughly weird curatorial decisions."
"Paris is known for its taste but this looked like a motley outfit thrown together," she said.
Critic Mike Hale writing in The New York Times said the ceremony felt "bloated" and "worked to diminish the athletes".
Overall it was "quintessentially French: titillating, hermetic, light on humor and heavy on pretense," he wrote.
Around 100,000 spectators watched from stands on the river banks, often at a cost of hundreds, sometimes thousands, of euros.
Although many were thrilled and upbeat despite the rain, others complained that they were left to watch screens and passing boats for most of the time, with the singers and dancers stretched out all along the route.
Around 200,000 people received free tickets to stand at locations along the banks, often with poor visibility, and many headed home early.
Paris organisers and the Internatinal Olympic Committee (IOC) were fulsome in their praise for Jolly's work at a press conference on Saturday.
"Every edition (of the Olympics) brings a stone to the edifice," Christophe Dubi, Olympic Games executive director at the IOC, said. "This has brought a mountain, it's not a small stone."
Chief Paris Games organiser Tony Estanguet hailed the ceremony as "a unique moment" and he stressed the successful work of French security forces.
Around 45,000 police officers, 10,000 soldiers and 22,000 private security guards were on duty.
"There were no security incidents," he said.
K.Brown--BTB