Comments on: Medal Count http://boingboing.net/2012/07/30/medal-count.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Fri, 24 May 2013 23:36:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: janusnode http://boingboing.net/2012/07/30/medal-count.html#comment-1494024 janusnode Tue, 31 Jul 2012 16:35:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=173980#comment-1494024 I spoke (wrote) too soon: Canada snagged another three medals (all bronze), so now we are at 1/8.6 million, thereby slaughtering our (formerly) rich neighbours to the south (not to mention Japan). I spoke (wrote) too soon: Canada snagged another three medals (all bronze), so now we are at 1/8.6 million, thereby slaughtering our (formerly) rich neighbours to the south (not to mention Japan).

]]> By: janusnode http://boingboing.net/2012/07/30/medal-count.html#comment-1494005 janusnode Tue, 31 Jul 2012 16:20:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=173980#comment-1494005 Eh, they're OK. With a population of 127.8 million and 11 medals, they so far have one medal for every 11.6 million citizens. Both Italy (8 medals, 1/7.6 million) and France (7 medals, 1/9.3 million) are doing better than they are. On a per capita basis, the best country in the end is usually some very tiny country that manages to snag a single medal. I haven't run the numbers for all the single medal countries (I have a day job), so there may be a medal leader in there. And just for the record, yeah, the USA (17 medals, 1/18.3 million) is beating Canada (1 medal, 1/34.4 million). Eh, they’re OK. With a population of 127.8 million and 11 medals, they so far have one medal for every 11.6 million citizens. Both Italy (8 medals, 1/7.6 million) and France (7 medals, 1/9.3 million) are doing better than they are.

On a per capita basis, the best country in the end is usually some very tiny country that manages to snag a single medal. I haven’t run the numbers for all the single medal countries (I have a day job), so there may be a medal leader in there.

And just for the record, yeah, the USA (17 medals, 1/18.3 million) is beating Canada (1 medal, 1/34.4 million).

]]> By: Ant http://boingboing.net/2012/07/30/medal-count.html#comment-1493910 Ant Tue, 31 Jul 2012 14:55:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=173980#comment-1493910  But look at Japan!  But look at Japan!

]]> By: Kimmo http://boingboing.net/2012/07/30/medal-count.html#comment-1493755 Kimmo Tue, 31 Jul 2012 10:56:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=173980#comment-1493755 Not even interested in the medal numbers. Not even interested in the medal numbers.

]]> By: invictus http://boingboing.net/2012/07/30/medal-count.html#comment-1493409 invictus Mon, 30 Jul 2012 22:48:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=173980#comment-1493409 There's a reason for swimming being so significant: Many countries don't have the infrastructure, so the competition is really only between the richest countries. Same with sailing and equestrian events; the cost of supporting a large amateur athlete population is prohibitive, and it is from that population that the elite athletes most commonly emerge. See Jul. 26th, 2012 BBC Business Daily piece on the topic: http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/bizdaily There’s a reason for swimming being so significant: Many countries don’t have the infrastructure, so the competition is really only between the richest countries. Same with sailing and equestrian events; the cost of supporting a large amateur athlete population is prohibitive, and it is from that population that the elite athletes most commonly emerge.

See Jul. 26th, 2012 BBC Business Daily piece on the topic:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/bizdaily

]]> By: Mark Dow http://boingboing.net/2012/07/30/medal-count.html#comment-1493392 Mark Dow Mon, 30 Jul 2012 22:07:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=173980#comment-1493392 Khazakhstan Rules! Khazakhstan Rules!

]]> By: Daneel http://boingboing.net/2012/07/30/medal-count.html#comment-1493370 Daneel Mon, 30 Jul 2012 21:28:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=173980#comment-1493370 Agreed. I don't understand the need to repeat the same events with different strokes. Just have freestyle - you're free to do backstroke if you prefer, tough titties if you lose because you chose a slower stroke. There aren't separate competitions for Scissors and Fosbury Flop High Jump techniques, or underarm javelin... Agreed. I don’t understand the need to repeat the same events with different strokes. Just have freestyle – you’re free to do backstroke if you prefer, tough titties if you lose because you chose a slower stroke. There aren’t separate competitions for Scissors and Fosbury Flop High Jump techniques, or underarm javelin…

]]> By: Stooge http://boingboing.net/2012/07/30/medal-count.html#comment-1493364 Stooge Mon, 30 Jul 2012 21:22:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=173980#comment-1493364 I would be surprised if that's the most up-to-date source. Things may be different for LOCOG but when I worked on an Olympic site a few years ago, the one* inviolable rule was that we did not update the site with provisional results but had to wait for the official, rubber-stamped ones. In some cases the delay was measured in hours. *OK, there may have been more than one. I would be surprised if that’s the most up-to-date source. Things may be different for LOCOG but when I worked on an Olympic site a few years ago, the one* inviolable rule was that we did not update the site with provisional results but had to wait for the official, rubber-stamped ones. In some cases the delay was measured in hours.

*OK, there may have been more than one.

]]> By: Chuck http://boingboing.net/2012/07/30/medal-count.html#comment-1493353 Chuck Mon, 30 Jul 2012 21:04:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=173980#comment-1493353 They should just go ahead and use the Metro Interface. They should just go ahead and use the Metro Interface.

]]> By: Adam Greenfield http://boingboing.net/2012/07/30/medal-count.html#comment-1493335 Adam Greenfield Mon, 30 Jul 2012 20:39:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=173980#comment-1493335 Why not just go to http://www.london2012.com/medals/medal-count/ ? At least it is up to date an accurate... Why not just go to http://www.london2012.com/medals/medal-count/ ? At least it is up to date an accurate…

]]> By: adent1066 http://boingboing.net/2012/07/30/medal-count.html#comment-1493329 adent1066 Mon, 30 Jul 2012 20:29:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=173980#comment-1493329 Neat concept, but the information is a bit out of date.  AT 4:30pm EDT, it's showing China with 15 and US with 13, CNN currently shows China with 17 and US with 17. Neat concept, but the information is a bit out of date.  AT 4:30pm EDT, it’s showing China with 15 and US with 13, CNN currently shows China with 17 and US with 17.

]]> By: thunderhammer http://boingboing.net/2012/07/30/medal-count.html#comment-1493320 thunderhammer Mon, 30 Jul 2012 20:22:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=173980#comment-1493320 Basically whoever dominates swimming dominates the olympics.   They really need to start padding the track events.  Since swimming has breast-stroke, free style, butterfly, backstroke, and medley, at every distance imaginable, plus relays, why not add running backwards, sack racing, and perhaps running-whilst-waving-a-small-flag? Basically whoever dominates swimming dominates the olympics.  

They really need to start padding the track events.  Since swimming has breast-stroke, free style, butterfly, backstroke, and medley, at every distance imaginable, plus relays, why not add running backwards, sack racing, and perhaps running-whilst-waving-a-small-flag?

]]> By: Peppermint http://boingboing.net/2012/07/30/medal-count.html#comment-1493321 Peppermint Mon, 30 Jul 2012 20:22:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=173980#comment-1493321 I think I'm the contrary - I love watching (some) sports (that don't nearly get enough airtime outside of the olympics), but I could really, really do without the patriotism. (Or the competition, for that matter, but that would be um, defeating the purpose I guess?) I think I’m the contrary – I love watching (some) sports (that don’t nearly get enough airtime outside of the olympics), but I could really, really do without the patriotism.

(Or the competition, for that matter, but that would be um, defeating the purpose I guess?)

]]> By: janusnode http://boingboing.net/2012/07/30/medal-count.html#comment-1493311 janusnode Mon, 30 Jul 2012 20:14:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=173980#comment-1493311 As another one from the great empty realm of Canada, let me remind you that Olympic medal stats are meaningless unless they are expressed in per capita terms. China has about 39 times more people to choose from than Canada does, so unless they end up with 39  times more medals, we win. As another one from the great empty realm of Canada, let me remind you that Olympic medal stats are meaningless unless they are expressed in per capita terms. China has about 39 times more people to choose from than Canada does, so unless they end up with 39  times more medals, we win.

]]> By: IronEdithKidd http://boingboing.net/2012/07/30/medal-count.html#comment-1493303 IronEdithKidd Mon, 30 Jul 2012 20:07:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=173980#comment-1493303 Women's synchronized diving, 3m springboard.  Women’s synchronized diving, 3m springboard. 

]]> By: TooGoodToCheck http://boingboing.net/2012/07/30/medal-count.html#comment-1493284 TooGoodToCheck Mon, 30 Jul 2012 19:48:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=173980#comment-1493284 Oh, hey, that's me.  And as a sports-hating patriot, let me just say,  "Woooo!  We're number 17!  Yeah!" I don't even know what we got the bronze for.  But, anyway, go Canada! Oh, hey, that’s me.  And as a sports-hating patriot, let me just say,  “Woooo!  We’re number 17!  Yeah!”

I don’t even know what we got the bronze for.  But, anyway, go Canada!

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