Russia’s foreign ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, criticized the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games as a “massive failure” due to several shortcomings. She expressed disbelief at the lack of live broadcast on Russian television and cited issues such as guests being forced to sit in the rain without proper cover, lack of cloud seeding or awnings, and a transport collapse following arson attacks on the rail system. Zakharova also mocked the detention of a Russian man accused of a “destabilization” plot for the event, questioning the presence of additional “spies” at the ceremony.
Zakharova’s criticism extended to the portrayal of drag queens in a segment of the opening ceremony, which some viewed as a parody of The Last Supper. She accused the organizers of mocking a sacred story for Christians by depicting the Apostles as transvestites. The spokesman for the Russian Orthodox Church, Vakhtang Kipshidze, echoed her sentiments, calling the segment “cultural and historical suicide”. Zakharova also took aim at other aspects of the ceremony, such as France’s blaming of sabotage for the transport collapse, the transformation of the center of Paris into what she described as a “ghetto for homeless people”, and the presence of rats in the streets.
The opening ceremony’s shortcomings were further highlighted by the limited participation of Russian athletes in the Games, who were only approved to compete as neutrals due to a ban on competitors under the Russian flag over the country’s actions in Ukraine. Zakharova criticized the organizers for poorly handling the event, which resulted in what she described as a “massive failure”. She questioned the decisions made during the ceremony, such as the introduction of the South Korean team as North Korea and the accidental raising of the Olympic flag upside-down.
Overall, Russia’s response to the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games was marked by strong criticism and discontent with various aspects of the event. Zakharova’s detailed list of shortcomings, from the lack of cloud seeding and inadequate cover for guests to the portrayal of drag queens and transport collapse, highlighted what she perceived as a poorly executed ceremony. The issues raised by Zakharova, along with the detention of a Russian man and criticism from the Russian Orthodox Church, underscored the dissatisfaction expressed by Russian officials regarding the handling of the opening ceremony. The ongoing ban on Russian athletes from participating under their flag added further tension to the situation, reflecting a broader context of strained relations with Russia.
