# Imbecilic Olympic, "controversy." **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Tags:** olympic-sports-track\ **Created:** [July 31, 2024, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imbecilic-olympic-controversy/1005031 "2024-07-31T00:00:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imbecilic-olympic-controversy/1005031/81 "2024-07-31T08:07:09Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > If you’re ok with that being at a sporting event where children are competing, on prime time TV where families are watching, that is fine. One of the major things I’ve learned after transplanting my family from the US to Europe is that Americans are really, really, _really_ squeamish and prudish on sexual subjects in comparison, to an unhealthy degree. Walking down the street in Berlin, my kids giggled at a wall of posters for a male strip revue, where the image was a naked guy from behind, shoulders to mid thigh, putting his muscular bare ass dead center, and his legs just slightly spread to allow a glimpse of ballsack. I was very surprised, but realized immediately that no harm at all would be done, and relaxed. I cannot imagine there was any intent on the part of the French to offend or to attack anyone’s morals. They probably thought nothing of it. This is part of life — a really _fun_ part, in fact — and it’s presented in a happy, celebratory way. To the extent that anyone has a problem with it, the problem is entirely their own. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imbecilic-olympic-controversy/1005031/82 "2024-07-31T08:11:05Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > Personally, I think it has to be taken in context, because the whole opening ceremony hangs together conceptually. The planners, we decided, looked at previous Games for inspiration: “They did a demonstration of X, or a paean to Y, or an ode to Z. What should we do to show the world something new and interesting?” And somebody snapped their fingers and said, “I know! Let’s just be aggressively French at them.” And all else followed. I think that’s pretty much form for the Olympic opening ceremonies (independently of whether it’s a norm for France). Thinking back to the 2012 Olympics here, the opening ceremony was quite aggressively British. Brunel, James Bond, the Queen; I don’t remember all of the details but probably also cups of tea and Paddington Bear and beans on toast and strawberry jam and fish and chips. I remember enjoying it at the time, but I imagine some parts of it were incomprehensible to other nations. I guess what I’m saying is that the opening ceremony is perhaps the place where you have the greatest licence to confound the rest of the world with whatever you want to do. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imbecilic-olympic-controversy/1005031/83 "2024-07-31T08:22:07Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Thinking back to the 2012 Olympics here, the opening ceremony was quite aggressively British. Brunel, James Bond, the Queen; I don’t remember all of the details A flock of Mary Poppinsii defeating Voldemort… ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imbecilic-olympic-controversy/1005031/84 "2024-07-31T08:37:49Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > I cannot imagine there was any intent on the part of the French to offend or to attack anyone’s morals. They probably thought nothing of it. This is part of life — a really _fun_ part, in fact — and it’s presented in a happy, celebratory way. That’s my feeling too. No offense was intended; it was a celebration of French culture. If some people didn’t get it, well, that’s fine; but some did. And I’m pretty sure that most people around the world looked at it, and may have been left scratching their heads, but didn’t take any offense. Because to most people in the world, there was nothing offensive. Weird maybe, but not offensive. @Mangetout describes it well: “… I imagine some parts of it were incomprehensible to other nations.” If a subset of Americans found it incomprehensible and somehow offensive, based on a misunderstanding of what was presented, well, tough noogies. The world does not revolve around that subset of Americans, and their sensibilities. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imbecilic-olympic-controversy/1005031/85 "2024-07-31T09:07:13Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > If a subset of Americans found it incomprehensible and somehow offensive, based on a misunderstanding of what was presented, well, tough noogies. Agree. This particular subset of Americans has made a career out of finding ways to take offense at things they don’t understand. It’s long past time the rest of us stopped pretending to take their concerns seriously. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imbecilic-olympic-controversy/1005031/86 "2024-07-31T09:30:56Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > You’re right it could’ve been entirely innocent. But we don’t know that. > What we do know, like said, this is the French being French. Which is more likely, though? That drag performers would use underage people in sexual situations and play into pedophilic stereotypes that are used to harass them? And no one in the Olympics would have noticed? Or that she’s of age and just looks young to you? You’re a tall lady, so your kids and grand kids are probably above average in height. And height is a very lousy indicator of age, anyways. And so are looks in general, especially when you’re wearing makeup and special costumes. Plus the signifiers of age vary a lot based on culture and the average physiology of a region. The whole issue with the outrage in the OP. is that people jumped to conclusions. They got an initial impression and ran with it. They didn’t even attempt to presume good faith. Of course, their reason was worse: they assume that LGBT people and the world in general is out to get Christians. But, still, we also should question our initial assumptions. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imbecilic-olympic-controversy/1005031/87 "2024-07-31T09:52:08Z")
Yeah, and honestly in this age of online information, there really is no excuse for being angry about something you don’t understand. I feel a bit sorry for what is probably the majority of sane and sensible Americans - external impressions of your country are significantly jaundiced by the export of ignorant outrage by what I imagine has to be a smallish, but strident minority of people who make a thing out of failing to understand that the rest of the world exists. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imbecilic-olympic-controversy/1005031/88 "2024-07-31T09:54:41Z")
Side note: whilst I think it is shameful that the organisers even felt the need to apologise to offended idiots over this whole thing, it did tickle me a bit that their apology took the form of a conference where they all sat in a row behind a long table. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imbecilic-olympic-controversy/1005031/89 "2024-07-31T10:41:17Z")
I’ve also seen Americans astonished that there’s no booze at the Olympics. Madness. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imbecilic-olympic-controversy/1005031/90 "2024-07-31T11:24:11Z")
It’s because of sharia law, isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imbecilic-olympic-controversy/1005031/91 "2024-07-31T11:43:54Z")
If that’s what the Daily Mail says, then I believe it! ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imbecilic-olympic-controversy/1005031/92 "2024-07-31T12:14:30Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > Incidentally, there was a segment in the opening ceremony that was _much_ more outrageous and boundary-pushing (and French!) than this gender-bending catwalk business. In order to cover the gaps in the staging of the boats parading down the Seine, they had some pre-filmed segments. > > One of them was set in a library. There were three dancers, two men and a woman, dressed in colorful psychedelic costumes, twirling through the stacks and occasionally sitting and reading suggestively-titled books. The whole time, the three of them were making eyes at one another, flirting alternately back and forth, using the sexy books to express interest in one another, giving the vibe that each of them was trying to choose which of the other two was more appealing. > > At the end of the video, all three of them went back to someone’s flat for a _ménage à trois._ > > I thought it was hilarious. But, I mean, come on, people, if you’re going to get your skirts all ruffled because the French like to push the cultural envelope, don’t just stop at the goofy bacchanalia. I saw that part on TV. The part that seemed outrageous to me was that they had all those pre-filmed segments. The carrying of the torch is usually live, you know? But also, i read it as a man, a woman, and a non-binary person. And i thought, “i guess this is in France, and they want us to know they are French.” Eta: and they looked very much like consenting adults to me. Adults who were flirting, and then decided all three of them to run off and find some privacy. I was surprised by that vignette, but thought the French were leaning into Paris being the city of love. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imbecilic-olympic-controversy/1005031/93 "2024-07-31T12:28:23Z")
Looking at it again, I think you’re right, and my knee-jerk assumption was unwarranted. It’s a man, a woman, and a person of alternative identity. _Très français,_ indeed. ETA: And like I said above, I interpreted the pre-filmed segments as a technique for dealing with the logistics of getting those boats organized upstream. There had to have been a massive effort in putting the national teams on all the vessels of various sizes, then lining them up and sending them downriver. Having stuff ready to roll on tape to cover the inevitable gaps is a smart solution. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imbecilic-olympic-controversy/1005031/94 "2024-07-31T12:46:26Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > I know I won’t get any support on this bastion of atheism I salute this bastion of atheism. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imbecilic-olympic-controversy/1005031/95 "2024-07-31T12:55:02Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > ETA: And like I said above, I interpreted the pre-filmed segments as a technique for dealing with the logistics of getting those boats organized upstream. There had to have been a massive effort in putting the national teams on all the vessels of various sizes, then lining them up and sending them downriver. Having stuff ready to roll on tape to cover the inevitable gaps is a smart solution. That makes sense. Mostly it bothered me because I’d been really impressed with the torch-carrier running over the roofs of Paris, and then i saw all this pre-recorded stuff, some with obvious CGI (the torch carrier in the Louvre, with the eyes of the paintings following him, for instance) and wondered if they faked the rooftop scenes, too. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imbecilic-olympic-controversy/1005031/96 "2024-07-31T12:59:35Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > Sacrilege actually does have meaning for many people, you know. That’s why the Nazis made Jews spit on the Torah. > > I didn’t really watch it, but I could tell that it was going to be very offensive to some millions of people. My thought was, why did they do it? They could have done a thousand other stupid shows, why something like that? I wasn’t exactly offended myself, because I am fairly hardened to tastelessness, as one must be these days, but I knew the reaction was going to be ugly. And so it has been. > > I know I won’t get any support on this bastion of atheism, but my point here is that if there was a specific reason millions of people (billions probably) were purposely offended, I wonder what that reason could be. I didn’t see that part, i just read comments about it. But if it’s actually an image of the bacchanalia, where’s the sacrilege? I mean, that was a quasi-religious thing, like a Christmas party is, but there aren’t many followers of Bacchus to be offended, if, indeed, they would have found it offensive. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imbecilic-olympic-controversy/1005031/97 "2024-07-31T13:01:01Z")
Some of the rooftop stunts were filmed in advance, yes. And on the day, they clearly had several different stunt people staged in the various locations, so they wouldn’t have to rush one performer from place to place. As far as I could tell, the actual parkour being performed was legit, though. (France is very proud of their role in popularizing this gymnastic art form; see the movie _Banlieue 13_ for a showcase. They wouldn’t have overtly faked that.) Oh, and for the record, this character was a video game reference. 😃 > **[Yes, Assassin's Creed really did inspire the 2024 Olympics Opening Ceremony](https://www.eurogamer.net/yes-assassins-creed-really-did-make-an-appearance-at-the-2024-olympics-opening-ceremony)** > > For those watching the Olympics opening ceremony last night, no, that was not your imagination – a familiar hooded Assa… ---
**Author:** ![Dandan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a87d85/32.png) [@Dandan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dandan)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imbecilic-olympic-controversy/1005031/98 "2024-07-31T13:43:20Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > Creation of Adam scene (BTW, hilarious). I’ve never watched AD, can anyone point to the episode? Thank you, Dan ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imbecilic-olympic-controversy/1005031/99 "2024-07-31T13:56:50Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > Americans are really, really, _really_ squeamish and prudish on sexual subjects in comparison, to an unhealthy degree. Yup! Three adults run into a room together and “OMG think of the children!!! They are promoting _pedophilia_!!!” 🙄 But not a peep about Marie Antoinette’s severed head and rivers of blood gushing from the windows. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imbecilic-olympic-controversy/1005031/100 "2024-07-31T13:58:36Z")
The best part of this fooferaw is either 1) Congersman Mike Johnson castigating the Biden Administration for not expressing outrage, or 2) the French Olympic spokesperson [insisting they did nothing wrong but are awfully sorry anyway](http://cbc.ca/sports/olympics/summer/olympics-last-supper-1.7278428): > [@](#): > > The organizers apologized Sunday, saying they meant no disrespect. > > “Clearly there was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group. On the contrary, I think [with] Thomas Jolly, we really did try to celebrate community tolerance,” Paris 2024 spokesperson Anne Descamps said Sunday. > > “We believe that this ambition was achieved. If people have taken any offence we are, of course, really, really sorry.” “It was a message of love, so fuck off. But we’re so, so sorry.” 🤪 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imbecilic-olympic-controversy/1005031.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imbecilic-olympic-controversy/1005031.md?page=6)