Est. reading time: 5 min 19 sec The Olympics: the world's most elaborate soap opera, disguised as a sporting event. It's a quadrennial spectacle where nations put aside their differences (or at least pretend to) and gather under the guise of friendly competition. But let's be honest, the Olympics are anything but friendly. The Olympics is a global phenomenon that lays bare the best and worst of humanity, where the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat play out against a backdrop of complex social issues, political tensions, and the never-ending quest to push human limits. They're a battleground for political agendas, a stage for social activism, and a breeding ground for scandals that would make your head spin faster than a figure skater attempting a quadruple axel. This year's Games can be an absolute circus, and we're front row center with a bucket of popcorn. A French pole vaulter loses his medal thanks to an unfortunate bulge malfunction, Simone Biles faces backlash for celebrating her wins (and letting her husband wear her medal!), and a gender firestorm erupts around an Algerian boxer. Oh, and did we mention the drag queen Last Supper resemblance that set the opening ceremonies ablaze? It's a chaotic whirlwind of controversy, triumph, and pure, unfiltered drama – basically, everything we love about the Olympics, all wrapped up in one glorious mess. Hey, this wouldn't be the Olympics without a healthy dose of hypocrisy, right? After all, this is the same event that historically sidelined women athletes and is only now, in 2024, reaching gender parity. And yet, somehow, a convicted rapist gets to compete while women are banned from wearing hijabs. But here's the kicker: despite the BS, women are absolutely dominating this year. In the U.S., women athletes have already snagged twice as many gold medals as their male counterparts. So buckle up, buttercup, because Reckon’s here to break it all down for you. We dissect the drama, analyze the spectacle, and maybe even shed a tear or ten for the sheer audacity of it all. Get ready for a roundup that's more exhilarating than a Sha’Carri Richardson photo finish – it's the Olympics, Reckon Report style. And that’s not all – stay tuned to our reporting for a relentless pursuit of truth, equality, and the perfect Olympic meme worthy of a gold medal. |
|
|
Not just Olympic boxer Imane Khelif: 10 times transphobia took the spotlight from women athletes |
The reinstatement of Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting, who were disqualified from the 2023 World Championships for failing to meet sex-testing standards, has ignited a heated debate about transphobia in sports. Despite both athletes being cisgender women who meet the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) criteria, their participation has been met with unwarranted attacks and discriminatory remarks from anti-trans advocates and certain media outlets. |
Why the drag queen "Last Supper" controversy is a reminder that the Olympics are about more than just sports |
A theatrical performance featuring drag queens evoking Leonardo da Vinci’s iconic “The Last Supper painting sparked a fierce debate following its inclusion in the Olympic opening ceremony last weekend. While some hail the act as a bold celebration of diversity and artistic expression, others condemn it as a disrespectful parody of Christianity. |
Simone Biles says she loves her ‘Black job’ |
Olympic gymnastics champion Simone Biles entered the fray of the U.S. presidential race on Friday with a post that appears to clap back at former President Donald Trump’s comment about “Black jobs.” “I love my black job,” Biles posted on X, in response to a post from singer Ricky Davila, who had said: “Iconic photo of the GOAT mastering her black job and collecting Gold Medals.” I love my black job 🖤 https://t.co/c5wPc6xOY3 — Simone Biles (@Simone_Biles) August 2, 2024 |
Flavor Flav’s new reality: Tackling gender pay inequality in sports, one Olympic polo match at a time |
Wearing his signature clock chain, a July 9 video shows hip hop legend Flavor Flav jumping into a pool decked out in a Paris 2024 water polo swim cap and full red, white, and blue gear, surrounded by a group of young women. No, this isn’t a revival of the early 2000′s dating show “Flavor of Love” but an unlikely pairing aimed at ensuring Team USA has the funds they need to bring home gold. In May, three-time Olympic Gold medalist and U.S. women’s water polo team captain Maggie Steffens posted a call for support on Instagram. “Some may not know this, but most Olympians need a 2nd (or 3rd) job to support chasing the dream (myself included!) and most teams rely on sponsors for travel, accommodations, nutritional support, rent/lodging, and simply affording to live in this day and age. Especially female sports and female athletes,” Steffens wrote. |
How Black and Latino youth brought breakdancing to 2024 Paris Olympics |
Breakdancing may be new to the Olympics this year, but its journey to Paris began in the early 1970s when Black and Latino youth in the Bronx pushed back against oppression with dynamic music and moves that defined a culture. |
On Storytelling, Motivation and Money |
In the latest episode of Reckon True Stories, hosts Deesha Philyaw and Kiese Laymon sit down with writer Alexander Chee, author of Edinburgh, The Queen of the Night, and How to Write an Autobiographical Novel. The three writers talk about their journeys in the publishing industry, and what success has meant to each of them, specifically in regards to money. They discuss Chee’s essay, “My Inheritance Was My Father’s Last Lesson To Me,” where he writes about his relationship to money, how it changes over time, and what the relationship between anxiety, money, and body looks like. Chee:“I've been thinking a lot about, how do we decide the terms under which we make art? What do we make art for? And are we making art to help ourselves survive? Does it help others survive? The novel that I am working on now, Other People's Husbands, the one that I just sold, is something I wrote to make myself laugh, in part, during a very difficult time. And so it's my hope that it will help other people do that too.” Please rate, review and share the episode on Apple podcasts, Spotify and more. |
Wanna talk about the Olympics? Don't be shy - hit reply or shoot me an email at mzenarosa@reckonmedia.com. Thanks for hanging with me today! Ryan will be back next week. Michelle |
|
|
|
