Prompt 1a
United States
The United States has a very coordinated national image during Opening Ceremonies.
Everyone has the same uniforms, branding the United States stripes and stars. The flag-bearer
tends to be a well known American athlete to enhance engagement for the ceremony. These
elements tell a story that America is a serious contender during the Olympic Games. Sports are
built on systems of development and competition that are accessible from a young age.
Haiti
Compared to the US, Haiti’s image presents a message of national identity. Their uniforms show
aspects of cultural pride instead of high end fashion. Flag bearers are chosen to represent the
country based on their cultural identity, not the most famous. Their story is one of resilience and
unity that is shown through their outstanding support of one another.
Prompt 1b
US
The United States' selection of athletes represents a fairly gender-diverse environment that
competes across lots of different sports.
Institutional
Athletes are supported by strong systems of development like training centers, private coaching,
college athletics, etc. This gives athletes a strong base from a young age that is then added
onto through practice and competition over time.
Sociopolitical
Policies in place allow for more equal engagement opportunities for women athletes. While it
still is not perfect, women in the US have come a long way in terms of the opportunities they
have in Olympic sports nowadays.
Haiti
Haiti in comparison to the United States sends a small selection of athletes that only participate
in a few sports in the games.
Community
Athletes are made through local and family support, often consisting of unorganized sporting
events. This is a complete mirror image of America’s athletic system and shows how hard it is
for Haitian athletes to truly make it.
Sociopolitical
Due to a weak economy and political hardship, there are not many opportunities for Haiti to
provide programs for athletic development. This further stresses the uphill struggle these
athletes face; ultimately contributing to a different cultural identity.