Says IOC must repair damage by disrespectful, inappropriate skit
PANAJI
The Joseph Naik Vaz Institute, an organisation based in Berkeley-California in the USA, has appealed to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to correct damage done by the skit-parody of the Last Supper at the Opening Ceremonies at the Paris Olympics 2024.
“We can’t help but share the opinion of many people around the world that the skit at the Opening Ceremony at the Paris Olympics that portrayed Bacchus and various others drunkenly indulging in various sexual activities looked like it was a degrading take on Leonardo da Vinci’s painting of the Last Supper, the last Communion meal of Jesus,” stated Filomena Saraswati Giese, President-Founder of the Joseph Naik Vaz Institute in a press statement.
“We have since been told that the skit was based on another painting the “Feast of the Gods”. However, there was no mention of that when it was aired to millions around the world. Christians and others understood it to represent the Last Supper.”
“As many of us are of Asian descent, we are brought up to respect the gods and beliefs of a multi-faith society.”
Giese stated that The Joseph Naik Vaz Institute supports Christian leaders of over a billion Christians around the world who have said that making a parody of the beliefs of their faith is unacceptable.
“We hope that such skits are not repeated during future Olympics. We second their request for a sincere apology to Christians whose beliefs were parodied.”
“We are proud founders of a young peoples’ soccer team in Goa-India named for our Patron Saint, St Joseph Vaz, our great Indian-Sri Lankan Saint whose influence and loving service extended over people of different faiths, cultures, and identities,” stated Giese.
She added that their young team of The Joseph Naik Vaz Institute had their first game on July 28, two days after the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony.
“We protest the fact that the IOC aired a skit which showed them that drunkenness is an activity to be enjoyed, when in fact it causes severe physical and mental harm and, indeed, undermines their sports performances,” stated Giese.
“As parents, grandparents, teachers and sports coaches, we also hold the IOC responsible for lack of responsible oversight in showing adult content to underage minors who were viewing the Paris Olympics. We hope that this lack of responsible oversight will be corrected during future Olympics.”
“We sincerely hope that the IOC will seek to repair the damage to the great and exciting Paris Olympics by this disrespectful and inappropriate skit, aired to millions of viewers, many of whom were underaged.”
Details of the Joseph Naik Vaz Institute are available at www.josephnaikvaz.org and Giese may be contacted by email (josephnaik.vaz@gmail.com).
