Paris Olympics organisers said Sunday they were “really sorry” if any offence was caused by their daring and quirky opening ceremony while denying any intention to “disrespect” religion after complaints from French bishops.

Some Catholic groups and French bishops have condemned “scenes of derision and mockery of Christianity” in the parade on Friday choreographed by theatre director Thomas Jolly.

Criticism has focused on a scene involving dancers, drag queens and a DJ in poses that recalled depictions of the Last Supper, the final meal Jesus is said to have taken with his apostles.

“Clearly there was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group,” Paris 2024 spokeswoman Anne Descamps told reporters on Sunday.

“If people have taken any offence, we are of course really, really sorry,” she added.

Jolly, 42, denied taking inspiration from the Last Supper in his nearly four-hour production, which took place in driving rain along the River Seine.

The scene also featured French actor Philippe Katerine, who appeared on a silver serving dish, almost naked and painted blue.

He was meant to be Dionysus, the Greek god of wine and pleasure, who was father of Sequana, the goddess of the River Seine.

“The idea was to do a big pagan party linked to the gods of Olympus,” Jolly told the BFM channel on Sunday.

“You’ll never find in my work any desire to mock or denigrate anyone. I wanted a ceremony that brings people together, that reconciles, but also a ceremony that affirms our Republican values of liberty, equality and fraternity,” he added.

In one of the other striking moments of the ceremony, a woman holding a bloodied severed head and intended to be executed French queen Marie-Antoinette appeared in a window of the Conciergerie, a building where she was imprisoned after the 1789 French Revolution.

She was later guillotined along with her husband Louis XVI.

“Certainly we were not glorifying this instrument of death which is the guillotine,” Jolly added.

In a gripping match at the women’s Singles Table Tennis event, Nigerian player Offiong Edem faced a tough challenge from Brazil’s Bruna Takahashi.

Edem ultimately succumbed to a 4-0 defeat, with the set scores being 8-11, 4-11, 11-13, and 10-12 in the Round of 64.

The match was marked by intense competition, with Edem showcasing remarkable resilience, especially in the latter stages.

Despite a difficult start, she demonstrated her determination, pushing Takahashi to tiebreaks in the final two sets. Edem’s skill and tenacity were on full display, but Takahashi’s experience and composure ultimately secured her the victory.

Edem’s performance in this match further solidifies her status as a seasoned athlete, adding to her impressive record of competing in five Olympic Games.

Football which kick-started the Paris 2024, even before the official Opening Ceremony will be on recess this Monday across all the four co-host cities and Paris.

According to the schedule made available to Sports Village Square by the Nigeria Olympic Committee,  Team Nigeria will feature in three events this Monday. 

The events are table tennis, basketball and boxing. Among the boxers scheduled to take to the ring is Cynthia Ogunsemilore who is supposed to face  Tapei’s Wu Shin at 2:30 pm in Paris (1:30pm in Nigeria). It is not certain that the bout will hold as the Nigerian boxer has been provisionally suspended for drug related issues.

Table Tennis (Women) 

Fatimo Bello Vs Jia Nan Yuan (France) 9 am

Basketball (Women)

Nigeria Vs Australia 10 am

Boxing (Women 60kg) 

*Cynthia Ogunsemilore Vs Wu Shin (Taipe) 2:30 pm

*(bout on hold following suspension of the Nigerian)

In a closely contested match at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Spain secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Nigeria, with Alexia Putellas scoring the decisive goal in the 85th minute.

The win was crucial for Spain, who are the reigning World Champions, as they continue their quest for Olympic glory.

The game, held at the Stade de la Beaujoire, saw intense action throughout, with both teams displaying remarkable defensive and offensive prowess.

Nigeria’s Super Falcons, led in attack by Asisat Oshoala, showcased their resilience and tactical discipline but ultimately fell short despite several promising opportunities.

The first half ended goalless, with both teams creating chances but unable to break the deadlock. Nigeria’s goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie, was instrumental in keeping Spain at bay, making several key saves. Notably, she stopped a powerful effort from Alexia Putellas and managed to thwart other Spanish attempts, including a header from Salma Paralluelo that was ruled offside after a VAR review.

Spain’s relentless pressure continued into the second half, with Nigeria struggling to keep up with the pace. Despite their best efforts, including a notable solo run from Oshoala and a few close chances, Nigeria couldn’t capitalize.

The decisive moment came in the 85th minute when Alexia Putellas expertly curled a free-kick past Nnadozie to give Spain the lead. The goal was a testament to Spain’s skill and determination, as they managed to break through Nigeria’s defense despite the Super Falcons’ resilient performance.

With this loss, Nigeria faces a must-win situation in their final group match against Japan to advance to the knockout stages. The Super Falcons, who had lost their opening game to Brazil by a similar 1-0 scoreline, will need to regroup and come out strong to keep their Olympic dreams alive.