BLAR Reflection
The BLAR chapters hold that every participant in the Olympics Games is supposed to be treated the same as intended in the initial Olympics and no cry for justice should be overlooked. This is a true argument since most of the Olympic competitions were and have been platforms to agitate for injustices committed around the world. The general stand all through these chapters is the promotion of equality, peace, safety, and power[1].
The first chapter majors on the theme of apartheid and civil rights problems that were rampant in the 1960s. Many people chose to boycott work and hold protests until equality was restored. There were individuals who used other methods such as clothing and props to air their sentiments. “At the medal ceremony, Smith and his colleague, bronze medal winner John Carlos, stood on the podium with one hand in a black glove, their bare feet a symbolic reminder of America’s treatment of its black population.” [2].
Chapter two and three talks about the reasons why Mexico chose to host the Olympic Games. In these two chapters, the authors hold that Mexico sent its top elites to bid for their chance to host the Games. The main aim of this move was to portray Mexico as an elite country that can competitively participate and organize international events. Although the country won the bid, it faced a lot of hurdles as it experienced rampant protests from student movements. Other first world countries questioned the ability of this Mexico to hold such an event on the basis of their geographical location and wealth capacity. Nevertheless, Mexico organized the competition and achieved its main aim which was to market its culture and secure a good status in the international arena.
The BLAR chapters employed reliable sources that strengthened their arguments. Some authors used research content while others wrote from personal experiences. For instance, in chapter 1, John Rhoda says that attended a protest where students from Mexico were fighting student’s discontent for others across Europe. “I was with the students who were fighting against the militia”[3]. This quote comes from the author when he met face to face with a protester pointing a gun at him. Other authors use sources close to IOC provisions as they try to prove their arguments based on real situations. All these sources provided reliable information about the questions asked and made it clear for readers to understand how the ’68 Olympics took place[4].
The significance of the author’s finding and work is that they provided a basis for understanding the whole issue surrounding the ’68 Olympic Games. The findings are important because they help the reader understand how the current Olympic Games were influenced by past events. This work gives a historical account of the influence of politics in Games. The finding and the work are important since help the reader realize why a low-class country like Mexico would prefer using its resources to organize an international event rather than use those resources to develop their economy.
Bibliography
Brewster, Claire. “Changing Impressions of Mexico for the 1968 Games.” Bulletin of Latin American Research 29, no. S1 (March 2010): 23-45.
Brewster, Keith. “Teaching Mexicans how to behave: public education on the eve of the Olympics.” Bulletin of Latin American Research 29 (2010): 46-62.
Rodda, John. “‘Prensa, Prensa’: A Journalist’s Reflections on Mexico’68 1.” Bulletin of Latin American Research 29 (2010): 11-22.
[1] Brewster, Claire. “Changing Impressions of Mexico for the 1968 Games.” Bulletin of Latin American Research 29, no. S1 (March 2010): 23-45.
[2] Rodda, John. “‘Prensa, Prensa’: A Journalist’s Reflections on Mexico’68 1.” Bulletin of Latin American Research 29 (2010): 11-22.
[3] Rodda, John. “‘Prensa, Prensa’: A Journalist’s Reflections on Mexico’68 1.” Bulletin of Latin American Research 29 (2010): 11-22.
[4]Brewster, Keith. “Teaching Mexicans how to behave: public education on the eve of the Olympics.” Bulletin of Latin American Research 29 (2010): 46-62.