Below is an essay by Tad Coffin, winner of two gold medals in the 1976 Montreal Olympics, for the individual and team Olympic Equestrian Three-Day Event.

The inclusion of a drag queen parody of the Last Supper in the Olympic Opening Ceremony has deeply offended many Christians and non-Christians alike, including myself.

As a Christian and as an Olympic athlete (1976 Montreal Olympics, equestrian), I am stunned and mystified by the decision to alienate such a large portion of the world's population while claiming inclusiveness and appealing to the avant-garde nature of French culture.

I am deeply disappointed by the French Olympic Committee's profound failure to provide reasonable guidance regarding the narrative and scripting of this Ceremony.

Therefore, I'll join the chorus of those who criticize the committee for its remarkably poor judgment.

It may be a useful thought experiment to consider how the purpose of this Ceremony might be re-imagined. In this way, it may be easier to judge the flawed thinking behind this theatrical catastrophe and contrast it to what might have been or should have been.

It is right and just that the Opening Ceremony should celebrate the athletes and their array of talents to marvel at the assembly of so many from the far reaches of the globe, their peaceful competition in such wide-ranging events, and share in their stories, hopes and dreams for athletic glory.

Similarly, the host nation of the Olympic Games has a unique and well-earned opportunity to showcase its own rich history, culture, and traditions. That is also how it should be.

Where do the gifts of athleticism, hard work, and perseverance come from? I have a talent for riding but certainly don't remember submitting a prenatal request for such abilities. While some characteristics are inherited, everyone knows that parentage hardly guarantees athletic greatness. For instance, my siblings have many other gifts but are not Olympic-caliber riders.

Being grateful to God Almighty for these abilities is not unreasonable. Certainly, there is ample precedent for seeing evidence of God's hand throughout human history. It's not necessary that everyone agree, but having the humility to recognize that it's not all of one's own doing is, at the very least, more appealing than publicly celebrating narcissism and trolling people of faith.

Therefore, it seems appropriate that a gathering of many of the world’s best athletes should at least include a grateful nod to the Divine.

What about the land we ride on, bike, run, jump, and train on? What of the water that we swim in, surf on, sail, and kayak through? The earth that we rely on for our very health and well-being? Is this world not possibly an act of Creation by a Creator? Should we just assume that this world, this universe appeared out of nothing and that we're so clever, putting it to such good use? Really? Again, it's certainly not unreasonable to be at least grateful for its existence. For millennia, many have sought to praise the Creator for his handy work.

And what has made the French French? My education as a rider is an inheritance from the famed Cadre Noir, the elite corps of Napoleon's grand cavalry. Its pursuit has been perfecting man's partnership with perhaps God's greatest and noblest gift, the horse.

The long, unique, and storied history of the French has most certainly not been built on the machinations of drag queens. Unless my reading of history is all wrong, France's theological underpinnings have anchored its national culture. To dispute this, to demean its importance while simultaneously elevating some grotesque parody of a unique moment of historical and religious significance, is to be enthralled with nothing short of the demonic.

Let's return to a simpler, authentic celebration of what's in front of us: the elevation of remarkable athletes hosted by a remarkable nation. May our future ceremonies extend recognition and gratitude both horizontally to our fellow man and vertically to the transcendent God.

The inclusion of a drag queen parody of the Last Supper in the Olympic Opening Ceremony has deeply offended many Christians and non-Christians alike, including myself.

As a Christian and as an Olympic athlete (1976 Montreal Olympics, equestrian), I am stunned and mystified by the decision to alienate such a large portion of the world's population while claiming inclusiveness and appealing to the avant-garde nature of French culture.

I am deeply disappointed by the French Olympic Committee's profound failure to provide reasonable guidance regarding the narrative and scripting of this Ceremony.

Therefore, I'll join the chorus of those who criticize the committee for its remarkably poor judgment.

It may be a useful thought experiment to consider how the purpose of this Ceremony might be re-imagined. In this way, it may be easier to judge the flawed thinking behind this theatrical catastrophe and contrast it to what might have been or should have been.

It is right and just that the Opening Ceremony should celebrate the athletes and their array of talents to marvel at the assembly of so many from the far reaches of the globe, their peaceful competition in such wide-ranging events, and share in their stories, hopes and dreams for athletic glory.

Similarly, the host nation of the Olympic Games has a unique and well-earned opportunity to showcase its own rich history, culture, and traditions. That is also how it should be.

Where do the gifts of athleticism, hard work, and perseverance come from? I have a talent for riding but certainly don't remember submitting a prenatal request for such abilities. While some characteristics are inherited, everyone knows that parentage hardly guarantees athletic greatness. For instance, my siblings have many other gifts but are not Olympic-caliber riders.

Being grateful to God Almighty for these abilities is not unreasonable. Certainly, there is ample precedent for seeing evidence of God's hand throughout human history. It's not necessary that everyone agree, but having the humility to recognize that it's not all of one's own doing is, at the very least, more appealing than publicly celebrating narcissism and trolling people of faith.

Therefore, it seems appropriate that a gathering of many of the world’s best athletes should at least include a grateful nod to the Divine.

What about the land we ride on, bike, run, jump, and train on? What of the water that we swim in, surf on, sail, and kayak through? The earth that we rely on for our very health and well-being? Is this world not possibly an act of Creation by a Creator? Should we just assume that this world, this universe appeared out of nothing and that we're so clever, putting it to such good use? Really? Again, it's certainly not unreasonable to be at least grateful for its existence. For millennia, many have sought to praise the Creator for his handy work.

And what has made the French French? My education as a rider is an inheritance from the famed Cadre Noir, the elite corps of Napoleon's grand cavalry. Its pursuit has been perfecting man's partnership with perhaps God's greatest and noblest gift, the horse.

The long, unique, and storied history of the French has most certainly not been built on the machinations of drag queens. Unless my reading of history is all wrong, France's theological underpinnings have anchored its national culture. To dispute this, to demean its importance while simultaneously elevating some grotesque parody of a unique moment of historical and religious significance, is to be enthralled with nothing short of the demonic.

Let's return to a simpler, authentic celebration of what's in front of us: the elevation of remarkable athletes hosted by a remarkable nation. May our future ceremonies extend recognition and gratitude both horizontally to our fellow man and vertically to the transcendent God.

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