Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By Chris A. Quilpa
Your Turn

At the outset, I want to congratulate Team USA for all the medals it has so far earned and played for with our athletes’ spirit of teamwork and camaraderie. As of this writing, the United States of America has garnered the most medals so far than any country participating in the Paris 2024 Olympics. Congratulations, Team USA! 

Did you watch the grand opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics? What do you think? Were you entertained? Were you excited to see notable tourist spots, religious edifices like Notre Dame Cathedral, and the famous Eiffel Tower in Paris, France? Did you have any reaction to the first portion of the show? Did you like what you saw? Why or why not? 

On July 26, 2024, @Pontifex, Pope Francis, leader and supreme pontiff of the Catholic Church, initially issued the statement, “The authentic Olympic and Paralympic spirit is an antidote against the tragedy of war and a way to put an end to violence. May sport build bridges, break down barriers, and foster peaceful relations.” #OlympicTruce#Paris 2024. 

Then, on Saturday night, August 3, after much backlash and clamor from the Christian population, especially Catholics, for a critical response from Pope Francis, the Vatican finally responded about the ceremony controversy, saying, “The Holy See was saddened by certain scenes at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games and cannot but join the voices in recent days to deplore the offense done to many Christians and believers of other religions…”

I didn’t watch the controversial opening ceremony because I was out of town with my wife. 

I did, however, manage to see some clips of the ceremony. My reaction? I found it distasteful and provocative, and morally questionable. To say that such an opening show was sort of aesthetically artistic and entertaining is not, to me. It’s insulting my faith and my little knowledge of morality and virtues. It was sexual and promiscuous. 

Such a parody or blasphemy of the Last Supper is kind of inappropriate and how they (the performers) disrespected Jesus, our Lord and Savior. The Olympic organizers may have felt sorry (or apologized) but it was done to advance their agenda of promiscuity and inclusivity. For God’s sake, our children were watching!

The sports and entertainment world has a responsibility to the viewers besides their advertisers and sponsors. Though sports events generally involve competition and winning, they have the responsibility to also address issues of cooperation, honesty, teamwork and unity, fairness, and sports-mindedness. They are charged with decent and entertaining events that help in the upliftment of humanity and the achievement of peace and solidarity rather than create animosity, controversy, and disunity.

With hope and prayer, the International Olympic Committee and its member countries will ensure that future showings or broadcasts of the Olympics’ opening ceremonies are for the general audience.

CHRIS A. QUILPA, a retired U.S. Navy (Hospital Corpsman) veteran, lives in Suffolk. Email him at chris.a.quilpa@gmail.com.