Compare And Contrast American And Olympic Games Essay

It can be said that the Olympic and Paralympic games serve as a vehicle for expressing British national and cultural identity. Personally, I agree as well as disagree with this sentiment. I believe that the spirit of the Olympic and Paralympic games are determinant upon the host city of the games. So, in regards to the most recent Olympic and Paralympic games, which took place in London and its surrounding areas, yes, the games served as a vehicle for expressing British national and cultural identity. However, with the upcoming games taking place in Rio de Janeiro the games will not express British national and cultural identity, it will express Brazilian national and cultural identity. To gain a better understanding of how the Olympic and Paralympic games affect and are affected by the host nation I am going to compare and contrast the London games to the 2008 Chinese games and the upcoming Brazilian games.

Danny Boyle was the director of the $42 million opening ceremony and he certainly did not disappoint his viewers. It is described as an “epic opera of social and cultural history.” Boyle attempted to recreate history before everyone’s eyes. He started at the beginning of modern day British athletics during the Industrial Revolution. During this time people were beginning to come together to participate and spectate local sporting events whether it was football, rugby, cricket, or any other typical British sport. Boyle led anyone who was watching the opening ceremony though the history of British sport in a matter of minutes. Boyle also utilized many of the quintessential British figures from Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean) to David Beckham and even the Queen, which stunned everyone. He was able to display the culture and identity of Great Britain by celebrating the nation as well as the nations