Cricket and Indian National Consciousness

It is recognized that there are close links between sport and politics, and in particular between sport and national consciousness. The Olympic Games and the football, rugby and cricket World Cups have often been used as platforms for the expression of nationalistic sentiments. The Olympic Games, revived at a time of expanding international trade, was a manifestation of global capitalism. However, they have also been used to express political statements –the Munich Olympics of 1936 were used by Hitler to highlight his belief in German racial superiority and during the Mexico Olympics of 1968, two African-Americans raised their fists in the Black Power salute and were consequently banned from representing the USA again.