Olympics 2008

[Alex]

Congratulations to Iceland, Bahamas, and Australia for taking the gold, silver, and bronze in total medal count, adjusted for national population. Sadly, the good old USA came in 29th but the evil Chinese came in a horrible 57th.

I've decided that to the degree I care about medal counts it is the number of physical medals (gross number of medals adorning necks from each country; e.g., winning the a basketball medal counts as 12 since 12 people get a medal) as a proportion of national population.

And thanks to a four hour conference call I have to be on but don't have to participate in, a table of the results:

Spoiler:

             TOTAL MEDALS (Events)   /MM Pop

Spoiler:

Iceland                14 (1)          44.30
The Bahamas             5 (2)          15.11
Australia             150 (46)          7.01
Jamaica                17 (11)          6.26
Norway                 26 (10)          5.44
Cuba                   47 (24)          4.17
Netherlands            64 (16)          3.89
Trinidad & Tobago       5 (2)           3.75
Denmark                18 (7)           3.28
New Zealand            14 (9)           3.27
Belarus                30 (19)          3.10
Hungary                27 (10)          2.69
Slovenia                5 (5)           2.46
Estonia                 3 (2)           2.24
Armenia                 6 (6)           2.00
Slovakia               10 (6)           1.85
Spain                  73 (18)          1.58
Serbia                 15 (3)           1.52
Mongolia                4 (4)           1.52
Lithuania               5 (5)           1.49
South Korea            68 (31)          1.41
Georgia                 6 (6)           1.37
Germany               111 (41)          1.35
Argentina              53 (6)           1.32
Latvia                  3 (3)           1.32
Bahrain                 1 (1)           1.32
UK                     80 (47)          1.31
France                 74 (40)          1.15
Croatia                 5 (5)           1.10
USA                   320 (110)         1.05
Romania                22 (8)           1.03
Canada                 34 (18)          1.02
Russia                143 (72)          1.01
Finland                 5 (4)           0.94
Switzerland             7 (6)           0.92
Kazakhstan             13 (13)           0.90
Azerbaijan              7 (7)           0.83
Mauritius               1 (1)           0.79

===================MEDIAN===================

Sweden                  7 (5)           0.76
Italy                  43 (28)          0.72
Ireland                 3 (3)           0.68
Ukraine                31 (27)          0.67
Bulgaria                5 (5)           0.65
Singapore               3 (1)           0.65
Greece                  7 (4)           0.63
Czech Republic          6 (6)           0.58
Poland                 20 (10)          0.52
Belgium                 5 (2)           0.47
Brazil                 75 (15)          0.40
Japan                  51 (25)          0.40
Kyrgystan               2 (2)           0.38
Kenya                  14 (14)          0.37 
Austria                 3 (3)0.36
Zimbabwe                4 (4)0.30
Tajikistan              2 (2)0.30
 Panama                  1 (1)0.30
Moldova                 1 (1)0.26
North Korea             6 (6)0.25
Uzbekistan              6 (6)0.22
Dominican Republic      2 (2)0.20
Portugal                2 (2)0.19
Republic of China       4 (4)0.17
Nigeria                24 (4)           0.16
Togo                    1 (1)0.15
China                 188 (100)         0.14
Israel                  1 (1)0.14
Turkey                  8 (8)0.11
Tunisia                 1 (1)0.10
Ethiopia                7 (7)0.09
Ecuador                 1 (1)0.07
Thailand                4 (4)0.06
Algeria                 2 (2)0.06
Morocco                 2 (2)0.06
Chile                   1 (1)0.06
Cameroon                1 (1)0.05
Mexico                  4 (3)0.04
Colombia                2 (2)0.04
Malaysia                1 (1)0.04
South Africa            1 (1)0.04
Afghanistan             1 (1)0.04
Venezuela               1 (1)0.04
Indonesia               7 (5)0.03
Iran                    2 (2)0.03
Sudan                   1 (1) 0.03
Egypt                   1 (1)0.01
Vietnam                 1 (1)0.01
India                   3 (3)0.003

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by Alex

Congratulations to Iceland, Bahamas, and Australia for taking the gold, silver, and bronze in total medal count, adjusted for national population. Sadly, the good old USA came in 29th but the evil Chinese came in a horrible 57th.

I find it fascinating that if Michael Phelps was a country he would have tied Italy for 9th place in the gold medal count. Finishing ahead of France, Japan, Spain and a host of other countries.

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

I always love the Olympics and this time around was no different. There were some spectacular moments that I will remember always and I'm glad I got to experience them. Some of my favorites include: Women's Beach Volleyball, Bolt's 100 meters, Men's indoor Volleyball final, Men's 4x 100 swimming relay, Men's close call butterfly, Opening Ceremonies and the taste of London (I LOVED the look of it and am hoping that Matthew Bourne will have something to do with it).

I'm actually rather sad it is over, but I'll be happy to have my nights back. I have a list a mile long to catch up on.

Wow: I could posted pretty much the exact same thing.

Originally Posted by BarTopDancer

Is it hockey season yet?

Anxious to root for the San Jose Sharks again?

[BarTopDancer]

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

Anxious to root for the San Jose Sharks again?

Only when it benefits the Ducks. So ask me again in April/May

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by BarTopDancer

So ask me again in April/May

Oh, no. I am forever going to remind you of that post that I always take out of context.

[BarTopDancer]

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

Oh, no. I am forever going to remind you of that post that I always take out of context.

You can remind me all you want. I don't deny saying it and I'll keep directing you back to the context. If it entertains you that much to keep bringing it up then keep on keeping on.

[Snowflake]

There were things I loved and hated about the Olympics this time around. I really do not like NBC sometimes. Since we're getting so much of it delayed on the west coast, is there any real reason we can't at the very least see the entire rotation for the diving finals? Not just the US divers and/or the top divers (and in some cases not even that, much of the diving finals had a Cuban in 2nd place, never even saw him).

I must have totally mistimed it, I never saw even one single event for the Decathalon. In fact, I missed most of the track and field events, except for the Bolt races in repeats over several days. Those were thrilling, dayum he is one fast runner, lightening bolt, indeed. I don't think I could get my a$$ out of the blocks in 9.67 seconds, forget actually running the 100 meters!

I loved both the opening and closing ceremonies and agree, the Mayor of London really needed a suit that fit (button up dammit, this is the Olympics) and a haircut. All the beautiful scenary really made me want to visit China.

I enjoyed it, had trouble finding events I really wanted to see, kept finding the endless coverage of the gazillion rounds of boxing (feather, welter, heavyweight and everything in between).

Looking forward to London in 2012.

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by Snowflake

...except for the Bolt races in repeats over several days. Those were thrilling, dayum he is one fast runner, lightening bolt, indeed. I don't think I could get my a$$ out of the blocks in 9.67 seconds, forget actually running the 100 meters!

I think I can do the 100 meters in about 9.67 minutes.

If I had a golf cart.

[Morrigoon]

Originally Posted by Alex

Congratulations to Iceland, Bahamas, and Australia for taking the gold, silver, and bronze in total medal count, adjusted for national population. Sadly, the good old USA came in 29th but the evil Chinese came in a horrible 57th.

I've decided that to the degree I care about medal counts it is the number of physical medals (gross number of medals adorning necks from each country; e.g., winning the a basketball medal counts as 12 since 12 people get a medal) as a proportion of national population.
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And thanks to a four hour conference call I have to be on but don't have to participate in, a table of the results:

I'd be a little more interested in that list if I knew it was adjusted by representation at the games. Obviously countries with exponentially-larger populations are not going to be equally represented at the games, due to efforts by the IOC to be inclusive to nations with a population disadvantage. Sort of like Rhode Island being disproportionately represented in congress.