Canada guaranteed the most gold medals in the 2010 Olympics

[Vulcan]

We at Reuters rank nations by the number of golds. It’s the way the IOC does it and, according to Reuters sports editor Paul Radford, it’s the way that makes most sense.
Here’s what Paul had to say when I asked him about it:
Reuters serves international clients across the whole world and most of them want their medals tables prioritised by gold medals. It seems that it is mainly North America which takes a different attitude and where the total number of medals is the criterion used.
I can’t see the logic of the total medals system at all. That means giving the same value to a bronze medal as you would to a gold. If you look at the expression on athletes’ faces as they just finish second or third, it’s often one of disappointment that they did not get gold and the chance to call themselves Olympic champions; it’s less often delight at being a silver or bronze medallist unless they started as rank outsiders.
Some people say the silver medallist is the first of the losers. I think that’s a bit harsh personally but you can take the point. Look at it another way. If Michael Phelps had won six golds and two silvers, would anyone have described that as a greater achievement than Mark Spitz’s seven-gold medal haul? The answer is clearly not.
So we’ll stick to the logical order of running our table in gold medals order. If that puts China first and the United States second, then so be it. Our aim is to be objective and favour no nation above any other

I tried to get the IOC medal site but it was password protected.

add link

http://blogs.reuters.com/china/2008/...-medals-table/

[jar_e]

Great to see that:

a)Canada has the most gold medals as a host country since 1924.

and

b) Could set the new record with most golds ever in a games.

Say what you want about own the podium, but it is literally paying its weight in gold right now. (pun intended)

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by nickerjones

Just because it makes you look better, congrats your good at winter games well at least 12 of them!

Actually, we're really good at 26 of them. We're the best at 12 of them, you illiterate redneck.

[JayP]

I can’t see the logic of the total medals system at all. That means giving the same value to a bronze medal as you would to a gold. If you look at the expression on athletes’ faces as they just finish second or third, it’s often one of disappointment that they did not get gold and the chance to call themselves Olympic champions; it’s less often delight at being a silver or bronze medallist unless they started as rank outsiders.

That's key quote.

Look at today's events. How big a difference was there in watching Jasey-Jay or the men's long track team bring home gold to watching the bobsleigh bring in bronze about 20 minutes later?

Some sorted of weighted points system may be better, but I really don't see how the total medal count (where 1st = 3rd) is way of declaring some sort of champion.

At the end of the day it's really irrelevant. Canada had an amazing Olympics regardless of what any standings say.

But while we're on the subject, I'd say any American site is the least reliable method of judging Olympic champions. They are notorious for swapping between golds and total medals to pump up their country.

[Devils'Advocate]

"Own the Podium" was to bring in the most medals. We won't come anywhere close. We won't even finish second. Either the Canadian Olympic program set their goals too high and thus set expectations too high, or they have to re-evaluate their program because their judgement is badly out of whack.

I think for us just a few years ago starting to take the funding of our athletes seriously and wanting to make a good showing, I think we did okay. I hope that we continue to fund the athletes at the current level. Own the Podium was 22 million this year for these Olympics, which is less than $1 from every Canadian. Some of you may want your $1 back, but I enjoyed these Olympics and I'll gladly continue to pay my $1 to see Canada be competitive, even if not at the top of the medal count.

[Dr GonZo]

Not only is 13 gold medals the most Canada has ever won, it ties the record for most golds in a single Winter Olympics, a feat only achieved by Norway in 2002 and USSR in 1976! Amazing!

PS: Don't jinx tomorrow.

[jar_e]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

"Own the Podium" was to bring in the most medals. We won't come anywhere close. We won't even finish second. Either the Canadian Olympic program set their goals too high and thus set expectations too high, or they have to re-evaluate their program because their judgement is badly out of whack.

I think for us just a few years ago starting to take the funding of our athletes seriously and wanting to make a good showing, I think we did okay. I hope that we continue to fund the athletes at the current level. Own the Podium was 22 million this year for these Olympics, which is less than $1 from every Canadian. Some of you may want your $1 back, but I enjoyed these Olympics and I'll gladly continue to pay my $1 to see Canada be competitive, even if not at the top of the medal count.

Own the podium was for the full medal count cause no one predicted we'd have a chance at actually only the only podium place that matters and that's gold. We're already the highest medal count by a host country and we may take home the most golds ever as a country in a winter games.

If that isn't success for the program, I don't know what is.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Red Ice Player

Well the blowhard segment (not calling you a blowhard, Nickerjones) can and will still gloat if Canada cannot win the hockey game Sunday. They will just say they beat us in the only sport that matters. Then they will go back to totally ignoring hockey again.

Yeah, fortunately I work with a half dozen Canadians and it seems to be well known that excessive gloating isn't going to fly. That and an American who's a true hockey lover being a big shot means that regardless of the outcome it'll be real hockey talk not a bunch of posturing.

BTW, didn't mean to imply Nickerjones was a blowhard back there, unless of course you were that speed skating guy

[Dr GonZo]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

I think for us just a few years ago starting to take the funding of our athletes seriously and wanting to make a good showing, I think we did okay.

Your handle suits you well.

(Tied for) The most golds won in one Winter Olympics ever might be a shade better than 'okay'.

[Schmidtyboosh]

Just for argument sake, how many medals did we choke away? I can count at least 5

[SOMBRI2]

i must admit, Canada will be #1 in rankings in Asia and Europe Style.

[Red Ice Player]

Originally Posted by Schmidtyboosh

Just for argument sake, how many medals did we choke away? I can count at least 5

I wasn't counting. And I don't care.

[Joborule]

As far as I care, own the podium is a success because we owned the top podium and may break the record for most golds.

Makes tomorrow marquee game of the Olympics all that more important.

[jar_e]

Originally Posted by Joborule

As far as I care, own the podium is a success because we owned the top podium and may break the record for most golds.

Makes tomorrow marquee game of the Olympics all that more important.

If there wasn't enough pressure or hype for this game, it sure breaks the scale now. Arguably the most important medal for Team Canada to ultimately make these games a legacy.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by jar_e

Great to see that:

a)Canada has the most gold medals as a host country since 1924.

and

b) Could set the new record with most golds ever in a games.

Say what you want about own the podium, but it is literally paying its weight in gold right now. (pun intended)

Hard to compare eras because there are more events now.

Still, Canada did fantastic.

This could be the peak for us, as more people take up the sports we are successful in.

[nickerjones]

Originally Posted by Red Ice Player

Well the blowhard segment (not calling you a blowhard, Nickerjones) can and will still gloat if Canada cannot win the hockey game Sunday. They will just say they beat us in the only sport that matters. Then they will go back to totally ignoring hockey again.

Oh I am a blowhard.... lol I wish they would NFL football to the olympics just so we could say we had a sport !

[jar_e]

Originally Posted by troutman

Hard to compare eras because there are more events now.

Still, Canada did fantastic.

This could be the peak for us, as more people take up the sports we are successful in.

That's a valid point but even in the past three winter games, which really is probably the most comparable given the exponential scale the training for these games have been on, its been an impressive feat.

[Fire]

Originally Posted by Dr GonZo

Not only is 13 gold medals the most Canada has ever won, it ties the record for most golds in a single Winter Olympics, a feat only achieved by Norway in 2002 and USSR in 1976! Amazing!

PS: Don't jinx tomorrow.

Not to be a downer, because it has been a great Olympics, but considering the number of events that exist now compared to 2002 and especially 1976 you can't really compare medals from Olympics to Olympics.

[Red Ice Player]

Originally Posted by Fire

Not to be a downer, because it has been a great Olympics, but considering the number of events that exist now compared to 2002 and especially 1976 you can't really compare medals from Olympics to Olympics.

What a downer. Nice going......

[slappipappi]

Originally Posted by Schmidtyboosh

Just for argument sake, how many medals did we choke away? I can count at least 5

There are some medals we did not win that may have been expected, but there are also some we won that weren't.

None were choked away.