Paris Olympics Organizers Say They Meant no Disrespect with 'Last Supper' Tableauhttps://english.aawsat.com/sports/5044831-paris-olympics-organizers-say-they-meant-no-disrespect-last-supper-tableau
Paris Olympics Organizers Say They Meant no Disrespect with 'Last Supper' Tableau
Religious conservatives from around the world decried the segment (The AP)
Paris Olympics organizers apologized Sunday to anyone who was offended by a tableau that evoked Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” during the glamorous opening ceremony.
Da Vinci's painting depicts the moment when Jesus Christ declared that an apostle would betray him. The scene during Friday's ceremony featured DJ and producer Barbara Butch — an LGBTQ+ icon — flanked by drag artists and dancers.
Religious conservatives from around the world decried the segment, with the French Catholic Church’s conference of bishops deploring “scenes of derision” that they said made a mockery of Christianity — a sentiment echoed by Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova. The Anglican Communion in Egypt expressed its “deep regret” Sunday, saying the ceremony could cause the IOC to “lose its distinctive sporting identity and its humanitarian message.”
The ceremony’s artistic director Thomas Jolly said it was meant to celebrate diversity and pay tribute to feasting and French gastronomy. Paris 2024 spokesperson Anne Descamps was asked about the outcry during an International Olympic Committee news conference on Sunday.
King Salman Stadium Unveiled with 92,000 Seating Capacity for Major Events https://english.aawsat.com/sports/5044852-king-salman-stadium-unveiled-92000-seating-capacity-major-events%C2%A0
The King Salman Stadium and its sporting facilities will enhance sports activities, fostering a generation of athletic individuals following a healthy lifestyle, competing regionally and globally, and excelling in various sports fields. (SPA)
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King Salman Stadium Unveiled with 92,000 Seating Capacity for Major Events
The King Salman Stadium and its sporting facilities will enhance sports activities, fostering a generation of athletic individuals following a healthy lifestyle, competing regionally and globally, and excelling in various sports fields. (SPA)
The Royal Commission for Riyadh City and the Ministry of Sport revealed on Sunday the designs and plans for the King Salman Stadium and its sporting facilities - one of the world's largest sports arenas.
The stadium will serve as the Saudi national team's main headquarters and host major sporting events and activities.
Situated in northern Riyadh along King Salman Road next to King Abdulaziz Park, the stadium is near vital city sites such as King Khalid International Airport, Riyadh Metro station, and major roadways, ensuring easy access from all parts of the city.
The stadium's construction reflects the support of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The stadium also aims to back sports and athletes and develop the sector. It is part of endeavors to empower those athletes and boost their performance, significantly bolstering the Kingdom's status as a leading sports hub.
The stadium will serve as the Saudi national team's main headquarters and host major sporting events and activities. (SPA)
The design of King Salman Stadium and its sporting facilities has been approved, with completion scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2029.
Among several proposals submitted by six specialized international companies, the chosen design draws inspiration from the mountainous landscape, integrating with King Abdulaziz Park through a valley that intersects the surrounding stadium garden and green spaces. The companies worked on providing the best proposals to meet FIFA's requirements and the standards of sustainability and architectural excellence.
The main stadium's architectural design includes green walls and ceilings spanning over 96,500 square meters, drawing inspiration from local urban structures and aligning with environmental sustainability and green building standards. This design will establish a distinctive global sports architectural icon capable of hosting major local and international entertainment events, enhancing Riyadh's quality of life and elevating the city's global ranking as one of the "best cities to live in the world."
Covering over 660,000 square meters, the King Salman Stadium and its sporting facilities comprise a range of amenities for various sports activities, including commercial centers and recreational areas accessible to all age groups throughout the day, making the stadium a compelling destination for visitors from within and outside the Kingdom.
The main stadium will have a seating capacity of 92,000 and feature a 150-seat royal suite, 120 hospitality suites, 300 VIP seats, and 2,200 dignitary seats. Sustainable cooling systems for the audience seats and stadium floor, along with extended indoor screens for spectators, indoor gardens, and a walking track with a scenic view of King Abdulaziz Park atop the stadium, will offer visitors an exceptional experience.
The chosen design draws inspiration from the mountainous landscape, integrating with King Abdulaziz Park through a valley that intersects the surrounding stadium garden and green spaces. (SPA)
The general plan for King Salman Stadium includes multiple surrounding sports facilities spanning over 360,000 square meters, including two training fields as well as fan zones, a closed sports hall, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, an athletics track, and outdoor courts for volleyball, basketball, and padel tennis. These facilities cater to all age groups and are interconnected by a 9-kilometer-long sports track surrounding King Abdulaziz Park.
The King Salman Stadium and its sporting facilities will enhance sports activities, fostering a generation of athletic individuals following a healthy lifestyle, competing regionally and globally, and excelling in various sports fields.
It will also help provide the infrastructure necessary to keep pace with sporting developments and achieve Saudi Vision 2030's sports objectives. By hosting major global entertainment events and providing diverse investment opportunities, the stadium's sporting and commercial facilities will contribute to boosting investments and the local economy.
