French conservatives and far-right figures have expressed anger and frustration over the official poster for this year's Paris Olympics. They claim that the poster, designed by artist Ugo Gattoni, does not feature important symbols of French identity, such as the Christian cross and the French flag, due to what they refer to as "wokism".

Several politicians criticized the poster, with François-Xavier Bellamy of the right-wing Republicans party accusing those responsible of distorting reality and denying France. One of the main grievances is the absence of the cross that sits atop the Dome des Invalides, a historic military complex where Napoleon is buried. Marion Maréchal of the far-right Reconquete (Reconquest) party questioned the purpose of hosting the Olympics in France if the country's identity is being concealed.

National Rally lawmaker Nicolas Meizonnet attributed the omissions to "wokism," a term often used by France's far-right to denounce what they perceive as excessive political correctness. The poster, unveiled on Monday, showcases a stylized panorama of Paris, featuring landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower and incorporating all 54 Olympic and Paralympic sports, presented in a playful and surrealist style.

The organizing committee defended the poster, stating that it was intended as a light-hearted interpretation of a reinvented stadium-city and that there was no obligation to include the French flag. They emphasized that the mascot rosettes contain the colors of the French flag, and national symbols like Marianne are also present in the design.

The controversy surrounding the poster adds to previous criticism faced by the organizers regarding the aesthetics and merchandise of the Games. In 2019, the official logo, featuring a flame, drew comparisons to the symbol used by the far-right National Rally party, led by Marine Le Pen.

Meanwhile, Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin revealed that a total of 326,000 tickets would be sold or distributed for the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, set to take place on the River Seine. The organizers have modified their initial plans for the water-borne parade after concerns raised by French security services and fears of potential terrorist attacks. Despite this, the event is still expected to break records in terms of scale, with previous Olympic opening ceremonies having taken place in the main athletics stadium.

Darmanin confirmed that 104,000 spectators had purchased tickets for the lower bank of the river, while 222,000 people would be attending on the higher banks with free tickets. An additional 200,000 spectators are expected to view the parade from buildings along the Seine, with an additional 50,000 in fan zones across the capital.

The Paris Olympics are scheduled to run from July 26 to August 11, followed by the Paralympics from August 28 to September 8. The organizing committee aims to make the event "iconic" by introducing unique elements, such as the boat parade on the Seine, departing from traditional practices followed in previous editions of the Games.