One efficiency from the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics has prompted blended reactions.

The four-hour ceremony kicked off the beginning of the Summer time Video games July 26, with athletes gliding down the River Seine and performers reenacting internationally historic moments.

Throughout a controversial tableau, drag queens and dancers lined an extended desk in a picture that some believed resembled Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Final Supper” portrait of Jesus Christ and his 12 apostles.

Following the efficiency, some known as the imagery a “mockery” and “insulting to Christian folks,” whereas others discovered the second a celebration for the LGBTQ+ neighborhood and inclusivity.

On July 28, Paris 2024 spokesperson Anne Descamps apologized “if folks have taken any offense.”

“Clearly there was by no means an intention to indicate disrespect to any spiritual group. Quite the opposite, I believe that (creative director) Thomas Jolly actually tried to rejoice neighborhood tolerance,” Descamps mentioned at a press convention. “We consider that this ambition was achieved. If folks have taken any offense, we’re actually sorry.”

Learn on to see why some have in contrast this Olympics opening ceremony efficiency to the “The Final Summer time,” how individuals are reacting and extra.

Why some are connecting the Olympics opening ceremony to ‘The Final Supper’

In a single scene from the opening ceremony, a dinner platter lifted to indicate a primarily nude Katerine singing in French. Within the background, dancers and drag queens struck poses alongside an extended desk.

Panning by the tableau, a digital camera first confirmed an individual topped with an aureole in entrance of DJ turntables. The following shot confirmed the remainder of the desk lined with performers holding their poses.

The desk then reworked right into a catwalk, because the drag queens and fashions took the stage in homage to Paris’ trend scene.

The official X account for the Olympic Video games shared pictures of the second and referenced Dionysus, Greek god of wine-making, fruitfulness and ecstasy.

“The interpretation of the Greek God Dionysus makes us conscious of the absurdity of violence between human beings,” read a tweet from the official X account of the Olympics.

However some related the tableau to the biblical scene da Vinci portrayed in “The Final Supper,” when Jesus Christ and his apostles shared a closing meal earlier than the crucifixion.

When requested concerning the backlash July 27, the ceremony’s creative director, Thomas Jolly, mentioned at a press convention that he didn’t intend “to be subversive,” “mock” or “shock.”

“We wished to incorporate everybody, so simple as that,” he mentioned. “In France, we have now freedom of creation, creative freedom. We’re fortunate in France to stay in a free nation. I didn’t have any particular messages that I wished to ship. In France, we’re republic, we have now the correct to like whom we would like, we have now the correct to not be worshippers, we have now a whole lot of rights in France, and that is what I wished to convey.”

Showing on French information channel BFM-TV Sunday, Jolly confirmed “The Final Supper” was “not my inspiration.”

“There’s Dionysus who arrives on this desk. He’s there as a result of he’s the God of celebration in Greek mythology,” Jolly mentioned. “The concept was to have a pagan celebration related to the gods of Olympus. You’ll by no means discover in me a want to mock and denigrate anybody.”

Reactions to Olympics opening ceremony efficiency

Some have been supportive of the creative imaginative and prescient, arguing the tableau was combating to make an announcement on inclusivity.

“We all know within the LGBTQ neighborhood in France we’re removed from what the ceremony confirmed. There’s a lot progress to do in society relating to transgender folks. It’s horrible that to legally change their identification they’re pressured to be on trial,” France’s Inter-LGBT President James Leperlier mentioned, per the AP.

Talking to French newspaper Le Parisien, Katerine mentioned in French that all the ceremony was “shifting” and “grandiose.”

“I used to be pleased with it as a result of it’s my tradition. We’re full of various folks and every individual lives in their very own means and above all has the correct to take action. I liked doing it,” he mentioned. Katerine added that he hoped to get the next message throughout: “If we’re bare, there is no such thing as a struggle as a result of there are not any weapons.”

Le Filip, who gained the third season of “Drag Race France” this yr, instructed AP they have been “amazed.”

“I believed it will be a five-minute drag occasion with queer illustration. I used to be amazed. It began with Girl Gaga, then we had drag queens, an enormous rave, and a fireplace within the sky. It felt like a crowning yet again. I’m proud to see my mates and queer folks on the world stage,” Le Filip mentioned.

Others, together with celebrities, U.S. political figures and Catholic church leaders, expressed outrage on the scene.

Actor Candace Cameron Bure, whose husband is a two-time Olympic medalist, known as the efficiency “disgusting.” 

“(To) see the opening ceremonies fully blaspheme and mock the Christian religion with their interpretation of the Final Supper was disgusting,” she mentioned in an Instagram submit July 28. “It made me so unhappy. And somebody mentioned, ‘You shouldn’t be unhappy. You have to be mad about it.’ And I’m like, ‘Belief me. It makes me mad.’ However I’m extra unhappy, as a result of I’m unhappy for souls.”

Home Speaker Mike Johnson shared a picture July 27 of the scene on X and known as the tableau “stunning” and “insulting.”

Catholic leaders in France known as the scene a “mockery of Christianity” in an announcement, Reuters reported.

“This ceremony has sadly included scenes of derision and mockery of Christianity, which we very deeply deplore,” the Convention of French bishops mentioned in an announcement.

Harrison Butker, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs kicker who gave a controversial graduation speech bearing on contraception, COVID-19 restrictions, ladies’s roles and extra earlier this yr, quoted the Bible on X after the ceremony.

“‘Be not deceived, God just isn’t mocked. For what issues a person shall sow, these additionally shall he reap. For he that soweth in his flesh, of the flesh additionally shall reap corruption. However he that soweth within the spirit, of the spirit shall reap life eternal,’” he wrote, citing, “Galatians 6:7-8.”

A 14-fight card at UFC 304 in Manchester, England, was headlined by a pair of title bout rematches. Belal Muhammad dethroned Leon Edwards to grow to be the brand new welterweight champion. Within the co-main occasion, Tom Aspinall made fast work of Curtis Blaydes, leaving little doubt that he is top-of-the-line strikers on the planet. To make sense of all of it, Brett Okamoto, Andreas Hale and Jeff Wagenheim supply their last ideas.

The stage was set for Leon Edwards to placed on a starry efficiency. It was early into Sunday morning — with the solar nonetheless down — however the followers at Co-op Stay enviornment have been absolutely awake and able to cheer on a present after simply having watched two different native heroes, Tom Aspinall and Paddy Pimblett, rating rousing first-round finishes.

Edwards didn’t ship the locals dwelling completely happy, although. It wasn’t just because he misplaced his UFC welterweight championship to Belal Muhammad. By the point the choice was being learn, the solar was rising in Manchester, however the power within the constructing had already been deadened. The principle occasion had primarily performed out with the challenger in dominant positions on the canvas or in clinches, as he piled up over 12 minutes of management time. Muhammad by no means significantly threatened a end, however he gave Edwards little alternative for a giant efficiency and the British followers little motive to cheer.

This was exactly what Muhammad had stated he was going to do. However it appeared unlikely, on condition that Edwards’ previous three fights had been in opposition to robust wrestlers — Kamaru Usman twice and Colby Covington — and the champ had principally saved these fights standing, the place he’s most harmful. Even when Edwards and Muhammad first met in 2021, in a bout that ended early in Spherical 2 as a no-contest after a watch poke rendered Muhammad unable to proceed, Edwards had saved the struggle in positions the place he might get the higher of it.

Not this time. Though Edwards had a giant third spherical, getting a takedown early and threatening a submission till the horn, and though he turned across the last spherical and landed a late elbow that left Muhammad’s face bloody, the soon-to-be-dethroned champ was unable to generate constant offense. His title reign simply petered out.

So now Muhammad is the most recent everyman to personal a UFC belt, following within the footsteps of men equivalent to Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis, fighters who placed on championship-winning performances however lack the star energy the UFC brass craves. Muhammad deserves all of the accolades for this victory, however will these accolades come his method?

The UFC star-building machine has by no means precisely embraced Edwards. So good luck to Muhammad, who had waited a very long time earlier than being given his shot. He needed to go on a 10-fight unbeaten run earlier than getting a date with Edwards. He made probably the most of it on this night time, however the smothering type wherein he secured his title would have made this struggle a yawner even when it weren’t taking part in out in entrance of his opponent’s dwelling followers and the sleepy hours of the night time. — Wagenheim

Is Jon Jones going to reply the telephone for Tom Aspinall?

Hale: All Aspinall wanted was one minute to avenge the lone blemish on his UFC file by annihilating Blaydes. Outdoors of Ciryl Gane, there’s no person else left for Aspinall to struggle who would current an inexpensive menace.

Apart from the TKO loss resulting from harm, Aspinall has worn out the higher crust of the heavyweight division with little to no resistance. Aspinall’s previous three fights in opposition to Blaydes, Sergei Pavlovich and Marcin Tybura have lasted a grand complete of three minutes and 22 seconds, with none going longer than 90 seconds. Aspinall entered the Octagon with a median struggle time of two:10, the shortest in UFC historical past. The 60 seconds it took to dispatch Blaydes will prolong his lead.

For what it is value, Jones has each proper to disregard the decision and trip off into the sundown when he presumably beats Stipe Miocic in November. It in all probability will not diminish his stature as the best combined martial artist, contemplating that he has way more to lose than acquire in a struggle with Aspinall.

Nevertheless, if he needs to show that he is nonetheless the most effective fighter on the planet, Jones must reply the hardest problem of his UFC profession in opposition to a person who is greater, quicker and extra highly effective than anyone he has ever shared an Octagon with.

As large as a struggle between Jones and Francis Ngannou was regarded as, the specter of Aspinall has eclipsed that and made Jones-Aspinall the most important struggle that may be made within the UFC, exterior of something Conor McGregor.

Paddy Pimblett was all the time this good

Okamoto: This is how you realize Pimblett has completed his job in relation to getting individuals to care about him — the overreactions to his performances.

When he beat Jared Gordon, in a struggle many scored for Gordon, it appeared like followers and pundits alike could not wait to leap off the bandwagon. When he failed to complete a veteran in Tony Ferguson, the “overrated” narrative grew. After which, after one (albeit) implausible submission victory over King Inexperienced, impulsively social media is flooded with “Paddy is the actual deal” feedback?

The game as a complete is swinging method too vast with each Pimblett efficiency. What did he do Saturday that we did not know he might do? We all know he has a harmful floor sport. We all know he tends to stand up when the highlight is at its brightest. This is not to downplay his previous exploits. The precise reverse, really.

It was the most effective win of his UFC profession so far. However why are we treating it prefer it confirmed us one thing we have been oblivious to? I knew Pimblett might carry out like this, and I believe the UFC knew it, too. The highest of the division remains to be going to be powerful for Pimblett. It was all the time going to be. The query of how far he can go remains to be on the market. And maybe for some, this final efficiency reveals he is for actual, however I used to be below the impression we already knew he was.

The Olympic Video games are underway from Paris!

For a full rundown of all of the occasions every day, we’ve got a full breakdown of all the pieces airing, together with the place and find out how to watch. Each Olympic occasion might be streaming dwell on Peacock.

In terms of the medal depend, the United States is the favourite to win essentially the most medals. China is unlikely to overhaul the U.S. within the general medal haul, however has an opportunity to win extra gold medals than the Individuals.

So which nation is main in medals after the primary day of competitors? Here’s a take a look at the Olympic medal depend (and hold studying for some Workforce USA highlights from Day 1).

Right here is the complete leaderboard, which can be up to date day by day:

The final Summer season Olympics by which america didn’t high the gold medal desk was in 2008 in Beijing.

International locations at all times get a medal bump being the host nation, and France is predicted to nearly triple the variety of gold medals it gained in Tokyo.

Workforce USA Highlights: Day 1

FIRST U.S. MEDAL

There have been a complete of 13 gold medal occasions on Sunday. There have been suppoed to be 14, however Males’s Road skateboarding was postponed to Monday due to the rain.

However what’s one of the simplest ways to begin the primary day of Olympic competitors? Cook dinner’N Bacon.

Workforce USA’s Kassidy Cook dinner and Sarah Bacon, that’s. The pair, who’ve been mates since they have been 8 years outdated, earned a silver medal within the girls’s synchronized 3m springboard ultimate.

It was the primary medal of the 2024 Video games for Workforce USA.

China’s first gold medal of the video games was in taking pictures combined crew air rifle.

USA-AUSTRALIA CONTINUE RIVALRY IN THE POOL

Individuals Jack Alexy, Hunter Armstrong, Caeleb Dressel and Chris Guiliano mixed to win the lads’s 4x100m freestyle relay for Workforce USA’s first gold within the Paris Olympics.

The Individuals completed with a time of three:09.28 to seize their third straight Olympic title within the occasion.

Australia got here in second with a time of three:10.35 and Italy claimed bronze with a time of three:10.70.

Watch as Workforce USA wins silver within the 4x100m freestyle ultimate, behind Australia and narrowly beating China.

Australia flipped the script n the ladies’s 4x100m freestyle relay, taking the gold medal over the U.S. and setting an Olympic document time of three:28.92 within the course of.

Workforce USA took silver, with an American document time of three:30.20, whereas China took bronze.

The 4 swimmers incomes medals for Workforce USA are Simone Manuel, Kate Douglass, Gretchen Walsh and Torri Huske.

Watch as Workforce USA wins silver within the 4x100m freestyle ultimate, behind Australia and narrowly beating China.

KATIE LEDECKY, GRETCHEN WALSH SHINE

In particular person finals, star U.S. swimmer Katie Ledecky gained her 11^th Olympic medal on Saturday, profitable bronze within the 400m freestyle on the 2024 Paris Olympics.

She clocked a time of 4:00.86 to complete behind Australia’s Ariarne Titmus, who completed in 3:57.49 to win a second-straight gold medal within the 400m.

In the meantime, Connecticut’s Gretchen Walsh broke the Olympic document within the girls’s 100m butterfly semifinals with a time of 55.38 seconds. Walsh challenged her personal world document time of 55.18.

Fellow American Torri Huske posted the second-best semifinal time of 56.0.

The 100m butterfly ultimate will happen on Sunday at 2:40 p.m. ET.

Workforce USA’s Gretchen Walsh units an Olympic document within the girls’s 100m butterfly.

Stephen Wade of the Related Press contributed to this report.

Robert Downey Jr. is returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Physician Doom in a brand new “Avengers” film titled “Avengers: Doomsday,” which can be directed by Joe and Anthony Russo in their very own return to Marvel. The directing duo is on deck to helm two new “Avengers” film: “Doomsday,” which can introduce Victor von Doom/Physician Doom, and “Avengers: Secret Wars.”

Whereas Downey had mentioned in latest interviews that he was open to returning to Marvel, followers naturally assumed that meant he would come again as Iron Man/Tony Stark. Downey’s return because the villainous Victor von Doom comes as an enormous shock to the fandom, together with the ecstatic viewers at Marvel’s presentation at San Diego Comedian-Con. Downey made a victorious look to Corridor H on Saturday night to disclose his return.

Downey’s very first look because the playboy super-genius Stark got here in 2008’s “Iron Man,” which was the primary installment within the interconnected Marvel Cinematic Universe devised by Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige. Over the following 11 years, Downey would reprise the function in 10 Marvel movies, together with “Iron Man 2,” “Iron Man 3,” “The Unimaginable Hulk,” “The Avengers,” “Captian America: Civil Battle,” “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” “Avengers: Infinity Battle” and “Avengers: Endgame.”

“Endgame” featured the loss of life of Iron Man. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige pressured to Vainness Truthful final December that he had no real interest in messing with Downey’s emotional exit.

“We’re going to maintain that second and never contact that second once more,” Feige mentioned on the time about Iron Man’s loss of life. “All of us labored very arduous for a few years to get to that, and we might by no means wish to magically undo it in any approach.”

Downey is now returning to Marvel, however not as Iron Man. The actor had been fairly open this yr about his curiosity in coming again to the franchise. Chatting with Esquire journal after his Oscar win for “Oppenheimer,” the actor was requested if he would ever return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe now that he’s formally an Academy Award winner. The actor didn’t hesitate to reply sure.

“Fortunately. It’s too integral part of my DNA,” Downey mentioned. “That function selected me. And look, I at all times say, ‘By no means, ever guess in opposition to Kevin Feige.’ It’s a dropping guess. He’s the home. He’ll at all times win.”

The Victor von Doom information continues an enormous yr for the actor. His efficiency as Lewis Strauss in Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” received him the Academy Award win for finest supporting actor in March. Most lately, Downey was featured within the forged of Park Chan-wooks’ mini-series “The Sympathizer” on HBO, the place he performed CIA operative Claude and a number of other different roles. He earned an Emmy nomination for supporting actor in a restricted collection or anthology.

Nearly every part went proper for the U.S. males’s basketball group in its opening sport of the Paris Olympics, a 110-84 romp over Serbia. Kevin Durant dropped 23 factors on simply 9 photographs in his return from a calf damage, LeBron James delivered a classic efficiency and 5 totally different gamers scored in double figures. 

One of many gamers who did not, nevertheless, was Jayson Tatum. In actual fact, Tatum did not play in any respect on Sunday — one in all simply two gamers head coach Steve Kerr opted to depart on the bench, together with level guard Tyrese Haliburton. Haliburton’s absence is not too large of a shock; he is been the eleventh or twelfth man all summer time. Tatum, nevertheless, registers as an enormous shock, because the MVP candidate and 2023-24 NBA champion had been a key a part of Kerr’s rotation throughout Workforce USA’s tune-up video games over the previous few weeks.

So, what provides? Even given the embarrassment of riches at Kerr’s disposal, why would a participant of Tatum’s caliber not play in any respect? Let’s dig in to what is likely to be occurring.

Why did not Jayson Tatum play in U.S. sport vs. Serbia?

If you wish to take Kerr at his phrase, this was merely a basketball choice, one spurred on by the return of Durant.

Does that move the odor take a look at? It makes some sense. First, Durant’s return made the U.S. even deeper on the wing. Second, Kerr has tinkered with lineups all summer time, and has advised the media a number of instances that he wasn’t afraid to combine and match primarily based on opponent and circumstance. In a sport wherein the U.S. needed to push the tempo, each to press its athleticism benefit over Serbia and to attempt to put on out star large man Nikola Jokic, the choice to sit down Tatum would take a look at.

Tatum is a methodical participant; he prefers a half-court sport, and he prefers to carry the ball and survey his choices. Given the problems that Kerr’s group has had getting the ball shifting at instances this summer time, you possibly can kind of perceive why the coach would go for totally different gamers who is likely to be extra prepared to push the tempo and more practical taking part in with out the ball — gamers like Tatum’s teammate, Derrick White, who won’t be the star Tatum is, however is a wonderful defender and spot-up shooter who likes to throw the outlet move and get out and run.

This can be a lengthy match, with the deepest and most harmful subject in Olympic historical past. In some unspecified time in the future, the U.S. goes to wish a participant with the kind of scoring and defending chops that Tatum brings, and Kerr’s choice to maintain Tatum on the bench will all be a distant reminiscence. Till then, credit score to Tatum for being absolutely engaged on the sideline and never making himself the story.

The Mets have a brand new left-handed weapon to deploy of their quest to achieve the playoffs.

The Mets have made a commerce to amass outfielder Jesse Winker from the Nationals in change for pitching prospect Tyler Stuart.

Winker, who signed a $2 million cope with the Nationals final offseason, is slashing .253/.372/.417 with 11 dwelling runs, 44 RBI, 51 runs and 19 doubles this season. He has additionally swiped 14 stolen bases.

“As soon as I came upon I used to be coming right here I used to be extraordinarily excited,” Winker advised reporters. “Such an amazing crew, they have been enjoying so nicely. Clearly I have been within the opposing dugout, so I am simply excited to be part of it.”

The 24-year-old Stuart was the No. 17 general and fifth-highest pitching prospect within the Mets’ system, based on MLB Pipeline.

Winker, who came upon the information he had been traded after his third at-bat for the Nats on Saturday evening, will present one other left-handed bat to the Mets’ lineup whereas filling in at one of many nook outfield spots. In opposition to right-handed pitching this season, Winker has a .834 OPS with 10 dwelling runs and 35 RBI.

The Mets are coping with an harm to Starling Marte, who has been sluggish to return from a deep bone bruise in his proper knee that has stored him out since June 22. The Mets’ different left-handed nook outfield possibility, DJ Stewart, is slashing .176/.332/.304 with 5 dwelling runs and 19 RBI in 70 video games.

In a corresponding transfer, the Mets optioned Stewart to Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday.

“It is a massive transfer,” Carlos Mendoza advised reporters. “Clearly a lefty bat. We have seen it so much, particularly after we play the Nationals, and the at-bats and the best way he managed the strike zone, the facility. Yeah, he is gonna assist.”

Winker, a Buffalo, N.Y., native, has drawn boos from the followers at Citi Discipline since 2019 when, as a member of the Reds, he hit a go-ahead dwelling run and made a game-ending sliding catch earlier than waving to followers alongside the left-field line.

As a member of the Mariners in 2022, Winker mentioned he beloved the followers of New York and “can perceive the eagerness and I respect it.” Earlier this season, whereas with the Nats, Winker hit a game-deciding solo dwelling run off Adrian Houser within the eighth inning of a 1-0 Mets loss at Nationals Park.

“My first couple of full seasons, I used to be possibly slightly on the immature facet, and I had some enjoyable,” Winker mentioned. “It is a passionate fan base and I am excited to play for them.”

The Mets can be Winker’s fifth crew since 2021. He was an All-Star for the Reds that season when he completed with a .941 OPS, together with 24 dwelling runs, 71 RBI and 77 runs. He mentioned he grew up enjoying with and towards Francisco Lindor and has relationships with Pete Alonso and J.D. Martinez.

After being drafted within the sixth spherical of the 2022 MLB Draft, Stuart started to make main inroads final season with a 4-0 report and 1.55 ERA in 14 begins for Excessive-A Brooklyn, in the end incomes a summer season promotion to Double-A Binghamton, the place be has been since.

This season, Stuart is 3-7 with a 3.96 ERA and 1.25 WHIP in 17 begins for the Rumble Ponies. He has struck out 90 batters in 84 innings.