Paris Olympics closing ceremony undergoes massive changes after opening backlash

The man in charge of the closing ceremony of the Paris Olympics has said death threats haven't held him back but the show has been revised "umpteen times" after a backlash following the opening event.

Thierry Reboul also maintained his defence of a section of the opening ceremony which critics claimed parodied the Last Supper, but which the executive director said was a reference to a painting of the Greek Olympian gods.

Asked by French daily, Le Parisien, about death threats, Mr Reboul said: "You have to live with it. And file a complaint - show that you won't let yourself be pushed around or intimidated. Or talk about it too much, either."

On whether the threats and criticism had caused him to rethink the closing ceremony, he told the same publication: "No, but they force us to have to reread the entire show for the umpteenth time to be sure that there is no possible misinterpretation, that we are not made to say what we do not want to say."

Paris 2024 organisers apologised after the opening ceremony to Catholics and other Christian groups furious over the kitsch tableau, which some said appeared to parody Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper masterpiece.

The Catholic Church and religious right in the United States were dismayed by the depiction, which featured drag queens, a naked singer dressed as the Greek god of wine, Dionysus, and a transgender model.

Former US president Donald Trump also criticised the opening ceremony, telling Fox News: "I'm very open-minded, but I thought what they did was a disgrace."

Mr Reboul said the closing ceremony on Sunday (August 11) would be "magnificent" and will share the same values as the opening event, adding: "It is a moment of tolerance, sharing and communion, without any bad pun (intended)."

He revealed that the traditional 12 minute long handover segment will be "a little longer" this year, with the next host, Los Angeles, having prepared it while the French team co-produced it.

Thomas Jolly, artistic director of both the opening and closing ceremonies, has given the latter the title, "Records".

The closing ceremony will be held in the Stade de France, which the organisers say will be transformed into a giant concert hall, with performers, acrobats, dancers and circus artists joining "world-renowned" singers.

Taylor Swift has been mentioned as a possible performer, although those reports haven't been confirmed. Others include Snoop Dog, Billie Eilish and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers.

Le Parisien reported on Friday (August 9) that there will be no resurrection of French pop duo, Daft Punk.

Tom Cruise will also be there, according to the same publication, having filmed a Mission: Impossible-style sequence in Paris earlier this year. A live stunt is reportedly planned involving Cruise and the Stade de France.

Mr Reboul said: "If all goes well, we're going to have a blast."