The 2024 Olympics have officially come to an end—but not without some noticeable technical difficulties.
During the closing ceremony on Sunday August 11, the elaborate performances of singers, dancers, and Hollywood stars were interrupted by “awful” problems with acoustics and audio for those watching the live stream. The trouble was noted by viewers right as Phoenix, an Indie band, came on stage.
The group’s performance could not be fully appreciated by many who called out the problems on social media, including questions as to why the sound production was “so poor” during both the opening and closing ceremonies. One viewer noted that the issues made the sound, filming, and pacing appear “so bizarre.” Another said they were “still enjoying” the band’s performance, despite the sound being “a bit muted.”
The criticism comes weeks after Olympic organizers were blasted across social media platforms and by a host of prominent conservatives and citizens who were appalled that the organization had allowed for an insulting display to be portrayed in offense to Christians.
During the opening ceremony, a group of performers dressed in drag re-enacted a display of “The Last Supper,” a famous painting by Leonardo da Vinci which portrays Jesus Christ’s last meal with his apostles before he is condemned to death. Later, those who set up the display apologized that people were offended but defended their actions just the same.
Religious leaders and citizens around the globe criticized the display, which featured a so-called “LGBTQ+ icon” named Barbara Butch at the center of the table—where Christ is seated in the famous painting—dressed in a silver headdress resembling a halo. In addition to the generally insensitive display, folks were especially upset that a “naked blue man” appeared in the scene.
The insult to Christians made such an impact that many called for a boycott of the Olympics, blasting the insensitivity and disrespect for the respective religious beliefs. The closing ceremonies instead featured many other stars and did not include da Vinci’s religious-themed work.
Rather, the performance notably included Hollywood actor Tom Cruise, who conducted one of his famous stunts and was given the Olympic flag as a symbol of the next event taking place in Los Angeles, California.
