Joined: May '08
Location: Lithuania
Age: 39 (M)
Posts: 10090
great britain have done a lot better than most of gurus expected- sure there is a positive factor of games taking place "at home" but still i think athletes over achieved a bit, korea is another one over achiever imho, and big under achiever looks like russia...germany also was expected to be in a more respectable place
Joined: Feb '10
Location: Portugal
Age: 43 (M)
Posts: 998
I think that the share of the medalls is really unfair! Per example my country only got today 1 medal (silver) and its almost everytime the same countries colecting them! USA, China, UK, Japan, Germany, France, Australia etc etc, its everytime the same countries getting the gold!! 20 years ago ringue hockey was a olympic game, but its a modality that doesnt serve for some countries interests, so lets put it outside the game! Supposelly the games should be all for amateurs, but we have a tournment of basketball where some players wins millions!! If basketball was an asiatic game it would be out, but of course there iis the interest of USA so its in!! The games shouldnt be only for the modalities where the big countries are strong, the games should be for all modalities, even the ones that are not played in China or USA!
the Chinese diving team cried for some upsets when they did not get the gold in 3M...anyway the countries that collect the medals are always the same...it seems that other countries has a very little chance of winning even a bronze medal...
Joined: Mar '11
Location: United Kingdom
Age: 39 (M)
Posts: 1646
Posted by pochui: great britain have done a lot better than most of gurus expected- sure there is a positive factor of games taking place "at home" but still i think athletes over achieved a bit, korea is another one over achiever imho, and big under achiever looks like russia...germany also was expected to be in a more respectable place
i dont think britain have over achieved at all. last olympics we were 4th overall in the medal table and this time round we have just shown our dominance in rowing and cycling. we have some really talented athletes in this country and that comes from the great training programmes we have over here. just imagine if britain was a bigger country say the size of china or america. no one would be able to touch us. the only reason those two countries are always on top is because of the wider choice of people they have. and that comes from bigger populations.
Joined: Apr '09
Location: Portugal
Age: 44 (M)
Posts: 4827
I am happy because Portugal conquered yesterday its first medal at this OG. It was a silver one, at Kayak, K2, and i felt happy because portuguese press is constantly talking bad about portuguese athletes saying they aren’t good enough, but they Forget to say they don’t have the same support other countries give to their athletes. Some of those portuguese guys in London have daily jobs in other areas not related with their sport and they almost don’t get any financial support to keep practicing. But it’s funny to look at the table and see that all of Phelps’ medals aren’t enough to beat China.
Joined: Feb '08
Location: United Kingdom
Age: 35 (M)
Posts: 1886
Posted by bullettooth1: just imagine if britain was a bigger country say the size of china or america. no one would be able to touch us.
But the Uk wouldn't be the same if it was a bigger country. I think being the size we are has moulded our culture and politics, not necessarily for the better but it does say a lot about where the UK fits into world politics. I don't think being bigger necessarily means proportionally more talent. Yes you have more chance of the odd freak/superhuman but the top level of athletes is defined by the culture rather than number of them available. China for instance is communist, which means the olympics is important for their propaganda, so of course they plough a lot of money and energy into training athletes, who feel a lot of national pride so train harder. The US is the most arrogant country in the world, due to their size and power. They diversify their population to like several sports and try to be the best in many and then barely compete in other sports. Both are in part to do with their size, but then Russia and India prove that population isn't everything. Though it is nice to say that per population we are winning
haha. Well technically it should be by gold medals not total medals although that still only places the UK at 9th, still above netherlands and australia. Anyway I made my point about proportion.
Joined: May '13
Location: Mauritius
Age: 32 (M)
Posts: 2688
Haha good job in reviving this thread seb1291, it is a very old thread, like two years ago anyway i would advice you to focus on the world cup, the past is the past we have to look towards the future anyway good luck mate have fun watching the world cup or bumping old threads if it is what you like lol. Cheers just kidding but dot lol. Peace out man, Costa Rica to win later!!
