26 July 2024
Parent Category: Iniziative (EN) -
Category: The United States of the World
A delegation from the "United States of the World" and the "Fondazione Mediterraneo" attended the opening ceremony of the 33rd Olympic Games in Paris, which began in pouring rain.
For the first time since the Games have existed, the opening took place outside the stadium.
The show lasted four hours, Paris was celebrating on the Seine: the video-report of the opening ceremony included spectacular choreography, great artists - Lady Gaga, Céline Dion - athletes waving flags on the boats whizzing along the Seine, the great protagonist.
There was controversy over a moment in the ceremony where it seemed that the Catholic Church was being offended: Thomas Jolly, the creator of the opening ceremony, wanted to respond to the controversy stirred up by Catholic bishops: "The Last Supper was not my inspiration, I think it was quite clear that it was about Dionysus arriving at the table: he is the god of the feast, of wine and father of Sequana, the goddess linked to the river".
Anne Descamps, Paris 2024 Communications Director, clarified that "obviously, our intention was not to disrespect a religious group, whatever it may be". She added: "On the contrary, our intention was to show tolerance and communion. If anyone was offended, we apologise".
"Italy is the protagonist of these Games, thanks to the prestige of President Mattarella and the passion of our dear friend Giovanni Malagò, President of CONI", said the Secretary-General of the “United States of the World” Michele Capasso.
The President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, in Paris on the occasion of the opening of the ‘2024 Olympic Games’, upon his arrival reaches the Olympic Village to meet the athletes of the Italy Team, welcomed by CONI President Giovanni Malagò and Secretary General and Head of Mission Carlo Mornati. He then had a very simple lunch in the canteen of the Olympic Village together with the athletes. The Head of State visited the Casa Italia in Le Pré Catelan, where he met the CONI executives and visited the works of art of ‘Casa Italia’ and the installation of Milan-Cortina 2026. In the evening, the Head of State attends the official opening ceremony of the 33rd Olympic Games Paris 2024 on the banks of the Seine.