Religious leaders from all faiths joined IOC President Thomas Bach and Paris 2024 President Tony Estanguet in an interfaith ceremony to celebrate their values of solidarity and peace on Sunday (4/8).
The event, held on the Esplanade of Notre Dame Cathedral, was a tribute to the first interfaith meeting organized by the founder of the modern Olympic Games, Pierre de Coubertin, one hundred years ago in Paris.
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach called on people of all faiths to call for peace. “In the true Olympic spirit, I call on all of you, whatever your faith. Let us join the athletes in calling for peace. Please spread this call for peace to all your religious communities. In this way, our many voices will become one,” he said.
“Last Supper”-like Scenes at Olympics Opening Ceremony Spark Fierce Criticism
The event comes after a backlash from religious leaders around the world, who criticized scenes from last week's Olympic opening ceremony. Paris organizers said there was “never any intention to show disrespect to any religious group,” but rather to “celebrate tolerance in society.”
French Bishop Emmanuel Gobilliard, the Holy See's special representative for the Paris 2024 Olympics, echoed the same sentiment on Sunday.
“The most important thing is peace. The scenes in the Olympic opening ceremony may be inappropriate, but the Olympic spirit is about peace, brotherhood, this togetherness, and when it creates tension, and conflict on social media and among political leaders, it is clearly not the aim of the Olympic Spirit,” he told AP. (in/ab)
