What could be the significance of the smoky atmosphere in the hall where the battle royal takes place in "Battle Royal"?

Feel
free to explore your own thoughts on this answer, as the narrator doesn't give a definitive
explanation about the significance of the smoke. It should be somewhat clear to readers that the
smoke is significant in this section because it is mentioned a dozen times. The smoke permeates
the air and is a definite physical presence in the space. The smoke is caused by the rich white
ruling class. They are smoking cigars in a way that clogs the entireof the room.

For those men, the cigars and resulting smoke are a sign of wealth and fun; however,
the smoke is choking and oppressive for the narrator and the other black boys. The smoke could
be significant because it is another item that the white ruling class has in its arsenal to make
the lives of the young black men more miserable. The white men have money, so they make black
boys try to grab it on an electrified floor. The cigars and smoke are just another item that the
white men have that cause the black boys pain.

The smoke
had become thicker and with each new blow it seemed to sear and further restrict my
lungs.