Jackie Hogan, "Staging the Nation: Gendered and Ethnicized Dis courses of National Identity in Olympie Opening Ceremonies." Journal of Sport and Social kesues. 27(2), May 2003, pp. 100-123, Reviewed by Amanda Schweinbenz. la this aticke, lackie Hogan analytes how gender and eticised discouses ef tatiunal iktiny ae nefketed in the apening verematies d the CRympie Ciames. Hogan angaen that although sport is prescated an the "peat cquatliren," nco and post- Marxista ayget tha rather sport serves to reinforce social incqualities ip (00. Besides the clas-bused incqualities, incqualities hased on gender and ethnicity we alo emphasied in sport. To adbes this argument, kgan examincl the content and symbolie mcanings behind the epening ceremanies by conducting a content analysin of theee different Olympic Giames: Nagane, lapan: Sydney. Australia; and Sala Lake City, LUnited States of America Hopan anilyed the compulory sepment of cach opening coremonies. a well an the interpenive sectiona. A comgurton of the 1OC mandatory opening ceremuties requirenncats, incluling the lorch relay begim the discussion, Hugan begins by incoreetly stating that the Olympie torchis lit un Miunt Olympes. Rather, the lch is actually lt in a tralitional scremony in Olympia. Gruoe. Hogan then dis cen the significance of the thre ditleent cauldnon ghtings. In Nagann, the ga nising committee selectod lapanese Olympic figure kaner Midori iho to tigta he cauldron. Althoerh Hugan does discue the importance of the music that was played during the lighting. Mudanr Burterfly, and how this upera's music ik linked i tradi- tiinal Japonee fomininity. Hugun neglects to mention that ho can also be aeciated with traditional femininity. Asu fipure skater. Ito is peeiented as paciaing pruce and beauty, raber than physical strength and aggression. I would argue that Hogan's discussion of the final lap of the toech relay and caul- dron lighting for the Ciames in Sydney, Australia falls short in preseting it impoe tane and significance, Although Hogan does indicate that the Games in Sydney marked the cettennial of womee's participution in ithe Olympie Games and that six former Australian Olympians, all women, caried the tonh during the la lap Hugan neglocts to mention why this is important. The fact that these were sis sf the mot sacpesaful Olympic athletes for Aestralia. women or men, and that Auntralia has nor mally heen acianed with masculinity and purticipation in men's porti aho high lights why the seckction of these mtmen man important. Av well, the ilecision of the oganizing committee to have cunent Olympie athlcte and potential pold medallist Cathy Freman lighi the cauldrun in of imuncavurable importance und shoukl have been included. In lighting the cauldron, Frecman, an Australian Abieipinal, signified a uniled Australia. In her quest to become Olympi champion, Frectman carried the hupes and dreams d not only hlak Australia, but alio white Australia. Freeman hecame a comon link heiween a very sparate nation Hogan provides an exoellent analysis of the caukdron lighting a he Salt Lake Cay Games. Afier September 11 the United Stutes changod. Not since the Cold War OCIMPICA T k ob Vila -2nte