Medal Standings by population ...

[Bingo]

pretty interesting to see the standings flipped when you look at the number of millions of people in a country it takes to win a medal

first is last as it turns out

Australia an amazing story with 1.6M citizens per medal ... China? 32!!

[troutman]

I think India has one medal.

[TurnedTheCorner]

1 Australian is worth 20 Chinese. It is known.

[Erick Estrada]

Canada has a bit of a disadvantage over countries like Australia, Britain, etc because we are a small country with our resources split into both winter and summer Olympics. We may not kick butt in summer but Britain had a single medal in the Vancouver games and Australia three.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Countries like China & India also have huge amounts of poverty with lots/most of their populations, so it's hard to compare those people as well.

[Regulator75]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

Countries like China & India also have huge amounts of poverty with lots/most of their populations, so it's hard to compare those people as well.

You don't say? Really?

[blankall]

Not really a fair way of doing things. Each country is only allowed so many participants in each sport. For instance, the USA could easily take Gold, Silver, and Bronze in Basketball. If you allowed participants from each country, things would be a little different.

[sclitheroe]

You gotta be some kinda insecure to come up with this form of ranking (you generally, not you specifically)

[Ben_in_Canada]

Aussie Aussie Aussie
Oi Oi Oi

[undercoverbrother]

I have often thought Canada should focus our efforts on the winter games. Spend the majority of our monies where success is most likely.

[Table 5]

That list seems to exclude some countries for some reason.

Where's Hungary on this list? 10 million people and 5 medals so far....that's 2 mill per medal....should be #2 on that list.

Or Cuba....11 million people and 5 medals too = 2.2 mill per medal

Romania, 22 mill, 7 medals = 3.2

And that's just what I can quickly spot.

[Knut]

Those are communist countries... and we do not like Commies in here.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by fotze

Plus all those eastern euro countries are mysoginistic d-bags.

At least we don't try to gas half the globe for not being blonde.

[Joborule]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

I have often thought Canada should focus our efforts on the winter games. Spend the majority of our monies where success is most likely.

US does good in both winter and summer.

If we participate in summer games, we should work to preparing our athletes the best we can so they can contend for medals in those games as well.

[HOOT]

Originally Posted by Joborule

US does good in both winter and summer.

If we participate in summer games, we should work to preparing our athletes the best we can so they can contend for medals in those games as well.

I know one of the rowers in the Men's Eight and he gets $1,500 a month from the government. He says it barely pays for his food, he is still living with his mom with his wife and kids, etc. Canada does not care about it's athletes like other countries, that's for sure!

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by Regulator75

You don't say? Really?

It's true. Apparently India doesn't even have electricity.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by HOOT

I know one of the rowers in the Men's Eight and he gets $1,500 a month from the government. He says it barely pays for his food, he is still living with his mom with his wife and kids, etc. Canada does not care about it's athletes like other countries, that's for sure!

As much as I do support better funding for athetic programs, at some point, the athlete themselves always have to sacrifice for their craft.

OTOH, the US considers Olympic medals as taxable income. Michael Phelps paid $70k in taxes on his gold medals in 2008.

[kirant]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Canada has a bit of a disadvantage over countries like Australia, Britain, etc because we are a small country with our resources split into both winter and summer Olympics. We may not kick butt in summer but Britain had a single medal in the Vancouver games and Australia three.

Same with Norway and the Winter Sports...though they're on a reasonable clip for London right now: ~2.5 million/medal.

[HOOT]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

As much as I do support better funding for athetic programs, at some point, the athlete themselves always have to sacrifice for their craft.

If an athlete can barely afford the food they need to survive and be an athlete with the money given to them it isn't enough. I just hate how much pressure the people, government and COC put on these athletes to win yet we can't even give them enough money so they can afford to live. People on IE are making just as much, if not more, than these people we put on the world stage.

I agree they shouldn't be driving around BMW's, living in 5000sqft homes and travelling first class to events but $350/week is a bit of a slap in the face IMHO.

[REDVAN]

Originally Posted by HOOT

I know one of the rowers in the Men's Eight and he gets $1,500 a month from the government. He says it barely pays for his food, he is still living with his mom with his wife and kids, etc. Canada does not care about it's athletes like other countries, that's for sure!

1500/month is enough to live very frugally if you're just supporting yourself and practicing your sport. I think your friends issue is the wife and kids.