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Paris Olympics organisers apologise to Christians for unintentional Last Supper parody

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The organising committee of Paris 2024 has apologised to Catholics and other Christian groups who were outraged by a scene during the opening ceremony that evoked Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper painting with drag queens, a transgender model and a singer made up as the Greek god of wine.

The unintended parody of the biblical scene, performed against the backdrop of the River Seine, was actually intended to interpret Dionysus and raise awareness “of the absurdity of violence between human beings”, organisers wrote on X.

The committee was forced to apologise after the performance caused outrage among Catholics, Christian groups and conservative politicians around the world.

“Clearly there was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group. [The opening ceremony] tried to celebrate community tolerance,” the Paris 2024 spokesperson Anne Descamps told a press conference. “We believe this ambition was achieved. If people have taken any offence we are really sorry.”

France has a rich Catholic heritage but also has a long tradition of secularism and anti-clericalism. Blasphemy is legal and considered by many to be an essential pillar of freedom of speech. Supporters of the tableau praised its message of inclusivity and tolerance.

The Catholic church in France said it deplored a ceremony that “included scenes of derision and mockery of Christianity”.

Monsignor Emmanuel Gobilliard, a delegate of the bishops of France for the Games, said some French athletes had had trouble sleeping because of the fallout from the controversy.

Archbishop Charles Scicluna, the highest-ranking Catholic official in Malta and an official for the Vatican’s powerful doctrinal office, said he had contacted France’s ambassador to Valletta to complain about the “gratuitous insult”.

The Italian bishops’ conference said that what should have been a celebration of French culture took an “unexpectedly negative turn, becoming a parade of banal errors, accompanied by trite and predictable ideologies”.

An article in Avvenire, the daily Italian newspaper affiliated with the Catholic church, said: “Don’t take us for moralistic bigots, but what’s the point of having to experience every single global event, even a sporting one, as if it were a Gay Pride?”

Matteo Salvini, the leader of the far-right League, a party in Giorgia Meloni’s coalition government, described the segment as “squalid”. “Opening the Olympics by insulting billions of Christians around the world was a really bad start, dear French,” he added.

The Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orbán, spoke of the “moral void of the west”.

Some commentators said the controversy was another example of 21st-century culture wars turbocharged by a 24-hour news cycle and social media.

Thomas Jolly, the artistic director behind the flamboyant opening ceremony, said religious subversion had never been his intention. “We wanted to talk about diversity. Diversity means being together. We wanted to include everyone, as simple as that,” he said on Saturday.

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GFA and Ghana Health Service launch new ambulance for Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence

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The Ghana Football Association (GFA), in partnership with the Ghana Health Service, outdoored a brand new Ambulance for the GFA’s technical centre, Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence (GSCE), on Monday, August 26, 2024.

The fully equipped ambulance, which will be stationed at the technical centre, will provide emergency support to the facility’s users, players and officials, and staff, in general.

The new Ambulance is expected to boost emergency healthcare services at the facility and also help to augment other efforts at improving health delivery at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence, which serves as the camping base for the country’s various national teams.

General Secretary of the Ghana Football Association, Prosper Harrison Addo, said the new ambulance will be put to good use to serve its purpose as its adds to ongoing efforts to secure livelihoods, while praising the Ghana Health Services for their support in securing the ambulance.

“This has been achieved by the kind courtesy of a partnership between the GFA and the Ghana Health Service, which is an agency under the Ministry of Health. We are extremely grateful to them for the immense support. This ambulance will be put to good use and serve its purpose for football here in Prampram.” he concluded

President Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku was accompanied by General Secretary, Prosper Harrison Addo, Vice-President Mark Addo, members of the Executive Council, Member of Parliament for South Tongu, Kobla Mensah Wisdom Woyome, former Vice-Chairman of the GFA, Fred Pappoe, former General Secretary, Emmanuel Gyimah, delegates to Congress, and the media to officially outdoor the brand new ambulance.

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Nsoatreman FC to face CS Constantine in CAF Confederation Cup after dominant first-round victory

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Ghanaian club Nsoatreman FC is gearing up for a crucial showdown against Algerian side CS Constantine in the second preliminary round of the CAF Confederation Cup.

Nsoatreman FC earned their place in the competition by clinching the MTN FA Cup title last season, and they are now representing Ghana with high hopes of advancing to the group stage. In the first preliminary round, Nsoatreman displayed exceptional form, cruising to a 5-0 aggregate victory over Chad’s Elect-Sport.

Buoyed by their recent success and a celebratory message honoring their executive board chair’s birthday, the team is determined to carry their momentum into the next round.

Their upcoming opponents, CS Constantine, secured their spot in this round by defeating Rwandan side Police FC with a 4-1 aggregate score.

The tie between Nsoatreman FC and CS Constantine is set for September, with both clubs vying for a coveted spot in the CAF Confederation Cup group stage.

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NDC pledges to revitalize Ghana’s sports sector with broader focus beyond football

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The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has unveiled a comprehensive plan to transform Ghana’s sports landscape, promising a fair distribution of resources and a shift away from the long-standing emphasis on football.

Historically, Ghana’s national teams, apart from the Black Stars, have faced limited support, leading to stagnation in the growth of other sports disciplines.

The NDC aims to address this imbalance and enhance the overall development of the nation’s sporting sector, should they win the upcoming December elections.

Key highlights of the NDC’s sports policy include:

  • Financial Support for Footballers: The party plans to increase financial support for footballers at all levels, including Colts, Division One and Two, and the Ghana Premier League, by enhancing their salaries and providing additional allowances.
  • Facility Refurbishment: Immediate upgrades will be made to pitches, tracks, and other facilities at national stadia in Accra, Kumasi, Tamale, Cape Coast, and Sekondi to meet FIFA standards.
  • International Standard Stadia: The NDC intends to continue its policy of establishing state-of-the-art stadia in all regions across the country.
  • Multi-purpose Sports Facilities: New multi-purpose sports facilities will be built to encourage regional sporting events and inter-school competitions, fostering talent development.
  • Equitable Investment in National Teams: There will be a focus on investing equally in various national teams, including women’s football, parasports, juvenile teams, and lesser-known sports.
  • Modern Sports University: The NDC plans to upgrade the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) Sports College into a modern sports university, offering training in sports science, sports medicine, and sports management/administration across multiple campuses in Ghana.
  • Sports Centres of Excellence: Establishment of Sports Centres of Excellence in the northern, middle, and southern zones, in collaboration with universities and the private sector, to enhance sports training and development.
  • Support for National Athletes: The party will provide consistent support for national athletes to compete internationally and develop post-competition careers, including pension schemes.
  • Scholarships and Sports Academies: Scholarships will be offered to promising sports talents, and sports academies will be established in partnership with the private sector.
  • Support for Retired Athletes: Retired sports personalities will receive assistance in pursuing sports-related careers after their active sporting life.

These were captured in their manifesto ahead of the 2024 elections, which the party is confident its leader former President John Mahama will secure victory.

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