GOP senators blast 'vulgar' opening to Olympics in letter to organization's president

GOP senators wrote to International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach and blasted the opening ceremony to the Paris Olympics as "vulgar."

The group of senators who signed the letter included Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and more.

“We write in response to the vulgar mockery of the Christian faith on display at the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024. The Games should unite people of every country, race, and creed. There is no place for anti-Christian bigotry at an event designed to bring the world together," the senators wrote. 

"The Games should celebrate the athletes, not denigrate anyone’s faith. We urge you to take immediate action by amending Rule 55 of the Olympic Charter to ensure that no faiths are the subject of mockery as part of the opening or closing ceremonies ever again,” the lawmakers also wrote.

The senators called on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to "formally condemn the mockery that occurred in Paris of one of the most sacred moments of the Christian faith."

They also urged the committee to adopt "formal changes to ensure this kind of divisive display is not repeated to ensure that Coubertin’s vision for the Games may continue to thrive."

The members told Bach that "every person, from every nation and every faith, should be encouraged to enjoy the Olympics without being belittled or mocked."