Religious leaders have gathered for an Olympic interfaith ceremony at the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris.
IOC Chief Thomas Bach and Paris 2024 President Tony Estanguet were also present for the event, during which Bach asked those of faith to call for peace.
Thomas Bach, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President said at the meeting: “In this true Olympic spirit, I call on all of you, whatever your faith. Let us join the athletes in their call for peace”.
Holding the ceremony at the Notre Dame served as a tribute to the first ever interfaith meeting organised by modern Olympics founder, Pierre de Coubertin, a hundred years ago in Paris.
The event follows backlash against some scenes at the Opening Ceremony last week from a number of religious leaders across the world.
A segment of the opening ceremony which appeared to parody Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper with drag artists sparked backlash from religious conservatives —who felt it mocked Christianity.
Controversial media personality Andrew Tate also criticised the scene, attending a protest near the French embassy in Romania.
Paris 2024 spokesperson Anne Descamps apologised for the scene in a press conference: “Clearly there was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group. [The opening ceremony] tried to celebrate community tolerance”.
