How is the overall "winner" determined for the Olympics?

Question

How is the overall "winner" determined for the Olympics?

Answer 1

I assume when you say overall winner, you mean the country that has won the most events? If that is the case, the country with the most Gold medals will be considered the overall winner. This is so only if that is what you meant by overall winner. As for an official announced winner of the Olympics, I don't know if they have one. But they (International Olympic Committee) do rank countries in terms of Gold medals won, so if that is enough for you to determine a overall winner than go with it.

Answer 2

3 questions down this was answered already, search please, there is no winner and anyone telling you differently is a liar.

Answer 3

There has never been a winner to the Olympics.

Answer 4

There is no winner.

It's all about the spirit of competing and participating, that's the point of the Olympics.

"The goal of the Olympic Movement is to contribute to building a peaceful and better world by educating youth through sport practised without discrimination or any kind, in a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play."

Answer 5

by the number of golds won

Answer 6

There isn't one! Everyone who competes is a winner. Thats the point. Medals are an added bonus.  

Answer 7

There is no official overall "winner"

Although Phelps could be considered for that.  He is bringing home more gold than most countries!

To determine an overall team or country “Winner” there would need to be a scoring mechanism in place similar to team competition at track meets.  The top individual placement would have a weighted point associated with it to fairly gauge the strength of the team.  A “team” that gets 2nd & 3rd shows more depth than a team that only has one great athlete.

1st Gold Medal: 10 points

2nd Silver Medal: 7 points

3rd Bronze Medal: 5 points

4th No Medal:   3 points

5th No Medal:   2 points

Finalist finisher 1 point

Playing with the numbers this would make the “Overall “ competition much closer than just looking at the Gold or Total medal counts.  Keep in mind that the 1-point for finishing is important for the spirit of the games.  It is a small reward for those who compete with no hope of winning. Long after the medalist have finished in some of the running and walking races there are people out there that do not quit.

Of course to be fair, some sort of weighting for the size of the country would need to come into play.  China would definitely be in the large school division, as would the USA.  In the small school division I would have to say a country like Jamaica would be considered dominant.

Answer 8

There is no overall winner for the Olympics.