Russian officials expressed strong disapproval of the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, which received widespread praise from Western media.
Criticised Outdoor Ceremony
According to Ziare Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, shared a detailed critique on Telegram, highlighting several grievances in an eleven-point review accompanied by ten photographs.
Zakharova criticized the decision to hold the ceremony outdoors despite heavy rain, which left spectators soaked as the organizers failed to provide adequate cover or cloud dispersal measures.
She also pointed out that many attendees left early because the seating arrangement made it difficult to view the proceedings.
A Ghetto for the Homeless
She drew comparisons between the Paris and Sochi Olympics, noting Western media's previous criticism of stray dogs in Sochi, while seemingly ignoring the rats allegedly seen in Paris streets. Zakharova also commented on the city's handling of homelessness, describing central Paris as resembling a ghetto for the homeless.
One of her more pointed criticisms involved the participation of rapper Snoop Dogg in the torch relay, during which she claimed he performed a song containing explicit lyrics.
She further condemned what she described as an "LGBT parody" of the Last Supper, portraying the apostles as drag queens, which she argued disrespected a sacred Christian symbol.
