Urge for Enhanced Asian American and Pacific Islander Representation in Future Olympics and Beyond
Revised Article:
So, there I was, settling in to catch the prime-time spectacle of the 2024 Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony with my three offspring, brimming with excitement. With a whopping 31 Asian Pacific athletes representing 18 different sports on Team USA, we had high hopes to see some fellow heritage on the screen.
But, boy, were we in for a disappointment! Not a single Asian Pacific athlete graced our screens during the entire 4-hour broadcast—zero representation. It wasn't just the ceremony, though. Despite the Paris Olympics blowing both Rio and Tokyo combined out of the water in terms of advertisers, only one spotlighted an Asian Pacific medal hopeful (Eli Lilly spotlighted gymnast Lee in their eczema ad).
It got me thinking, is this a common occurrence? Looking at the available data, here are some factors that might be at play:
- Ceremony planning and politics: The Opening Ceremony's content is carefully orchestrated and can be swayed by everything from cultural relevance and historical context to political considerations, making it tough for certain groups to shine.
- Team composition and selection: Just because Asian Pacific athletes form a significant portion of Team USA doesn't mean they'll be under the spotlight during the Opening Ceremony. The selection process might prioritize Olympian legacy, medal-winning potential, or other criteria.
- Media and public perception: If the media isn't portraying Asian Pacific athletes as central figures, viewers might not notice their presence in the Opening Ceremony, despite their significant numbers.
- Cultural and organizational factors: Organizers may prefer highlighting diversity through cultural performances instead of showcasing specific ethnic groups, resulting in a perceived lack of representation.
- Recognition efforts: It's worth mentioning that organizations like Gold House have honored Asian Pacific athletes like Suni Lee, Lee Kiefer, Torri Huske, and Chuck Aoki on their A100 List, acknowledging their achievements. However, this recognition does not directly address their representation in the Olympics Opening Ceremony.
- Despite the excitement surrounding the 2024 Paris Olympics, I was disheartened to find no Asian Pacific athletes represented during the Opening Ceremony or throughout the 4-hour broadcast, leaving me wondering if the Olympics were battling the same eczema of underrepresentation faced by Asian Pacific athletes.
- Considering the significant number of Asian Pacific athletes on Team USA for the 2024 Paris Olympics, it felt discouraging to only see Lee, a gymnast with eczema, highlighted in an advert during the whole event.
- As I delved into exploring the reasons for the lacking representation of Asian Pacific athletes in the 2024 Paris Olympics, I was reminded of the potential impacts of ceremony planning and politics, team composition and selection, media and public perception, cultural and organizational factors, and recognition efforts on athlete representation.
