Olympic medal count? What does it mean

United States
August 12, 2008 1:00pm CST
So many articles are focusing on two things, the medal count and gold medal count. Are either of these a really good measure of what nation is doing best? First of all, I think scoring should be done like a high school track meet. First place gets you 5 points (Gold for 5), 2nd 3, and 3rd 1. This way the medals are all weighted. Also, is it really a surprise China is doing so well? They are going to get creamed in the events that are actually sport (basketball, swimming, track and field) or at least about even (gymnastics).
1 response
martahandey
@martahandey (165)
• United States
13 Aug 08
The Chinese are the ones making such a big deal about the medal count. The United States have dominated it for a long time, but I don't think they have made much of a deal about it... the Chinese want to show that they have become athletically dominant, so they have focused on that.. and also since it's their home Olympics.. they think it's important. And they have done a good job. But they focused on sports that yielded the most gold medals, like shooting events, weightlifting, and other things like that. Personally I think that is pretty weak, and if The USA still wins the main sports, (basketball, track, swimming, softball, volleyball,) then I will still feel like they are the winners.