MOSCOW, July 30, Oleg Bogatov. Former US President and presidential contender Donald Trump was right to call the scandalous opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris a disgrace, and it could only get worse, said four-time Olympic biathlon champion Alexander Tikhonov.
The opening of the Games took place on July 26. Many social media users expressed outrage at the parody of the «Last Supper» they saw, featuring transvestites and representatives of the LGBT* community. On July 28, the director of communications for the organizing committee of the Games, Anne Descamps, apologized to those whose feelings may have been offended by certain scenes of the ceremony, in particular the parody of the «Last Supper». Other blunders were made at the opening: at the climax, the flag of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) was raised upside down, and the announcer during the parade of athletes introduced the South Korean team as the DPRK team.
«There can't be a truer opinion, because the whole world is talking about it. Transgenders all over — it's a disgrace and a disgrace to the whole world. I think Donald Trump said this sincerely, calling the opening of the Olympic Games in Paris a disgrace. And, of course, not without a bit of advertising for his presidential race. But everyone is talking about this: the opening ceremony is criticized by Germans, Americans, representatives of other countries, and even the French themselves,» Tikhonov said, commenting on Trump's words.
«There are so many scandals happening in Paris now — violence, theft, robbery and everything else. And the Games have only just begun, it will get even worse,» the agency's source emphasized.
At the same time, the Olympic champion noted the low level of organization of the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid (USA).
«I became an Olympic champion for the fourth time then. When the Americans placed us in a future prison and there were problems with food and transportation. I have never seen a greater disgrace. And the opening was about the same, we waited for an hour and a half for the columns of athletes to move. I carried the flag of the Soviet delegation, which I did not bow before the podium of the US President. Although the KGB officers told me: «Sasha, you must definitely bow the flag a little.» And I raised it even higher. I can say that the 1980 Olympics were a disgrace. The Japanese showed themselves to be great in 1972 in Sapporo, the Austrians in 1976 in Innsbruck created a fairy tale, Grenoble in 1968 was exemplary in terms of organization. And the Americans ruined everything,» Tikhonov concluded.
* Recognized in Russia as an extremist movement and banned.