ESPN personality Pat McAfee has become the latest high-profile commentator to weigh in on the controversy surrounding the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony. In a recent broadcast, McAfee criticized the ceremony for overshadowing the true spirit of the Games—sports.
During Monday’s show, McAfee touched on the backlash generated by the opening ceremony’s artistic direction, led by Thomas Jolly. While McAfee refrained from diving deep into the specifics of the controversy, he made it clear that he believes the Olympics should remain focused on athletic competition, not political or social agendas.
“Look, a lot of people are saying they’re going to skip the Olympics because of the opening ceremony,” McAfee said. “Over the weekend, I learned a lot about Thomas Jolly, and I’ll be honest—I didn’t see anything suggesting he cares about sports. That’s the problem. We need people who love sports to be involved in sports events.”
McAfee’s comments come amid widespread criticism of Jolly’s artistic presentation, which many have found offensive and disconnected from the core purpose of the Olympics. Despite not detailing the specifics of his objections, McAfee expressed bewilderment over why such a performance was chosen to kick off the Games.
“But here’s the thing,” McAfee continued. “A lot of people felt that what Thomas Jolly put together was incredibly disrespectful. And honestly, it’s hard to see how any of that relates to starting the Olympics or announcing the Games. It was more of an artistic statement, but the Olympics should be about celebrating sports.”
In his monologue, McAfee reinforced the fundamental purpose of the Olympic Games: to spotlight the extraordinary achievements of athletes from around the world. He argued that the focus should be on the sports and the athletes who dedicate their lives to excellence, not on controversial artistic statements or political messages.
“We just want it to revolve around sports,” McAfee emphasized. “We can’t have the opening ceremony become the reason people skip out on watching these athletes who have sacrificed so much. They get to experience this magic only once every four years.”
McAfee also expressed hope that the Olympics would learn from this year’s misstep and avoid unnecessary controversy in the future. “So I hope that next time, they think about how sports should be the main focus,” he said. “We don’t need distractions that keep people from watching what should be a celebration of athletic greatness.”
Wrapping up his commentary, McAfee reflected on the broader appeal of the Olympics, despite the drama surrounding the opening ceremony. “I love the Olympic Games,” he said. “I don’t love all the drama that was clearly self-created by the Olympics. But I love watching the greats showcase their talents in sports we might not even know much about. It’s what makes the Games so special.”
McAfee’s take resonates with many who feel the Olympics should remain a unifying event, celebrating sportsmanship and athletic achievement rather than becoming a platform for contentious artistic expressions. As the Games continue, fans and commentators alike will be watching to see if the focus will return to celebrating the athletes and their remarkable feats.
