More medals are given out in the Olympics that's why some countries are breaking previous medal records right?

Question

There are new sports being added (like biking BMX).

New types of competition in existing sports (like outdoor swimming)

And simple more medals given out (like double bronzes in wrestling or martial arts events)

And finally exceptional circonstances where two medals of the same metal are awarded to different nations...

That'll explain why Canada, Brazil, Mexico, among others, are heading for record performances; and the US itself benefits from more medals being distributed

Answer 1

Foreigners get lucky, Americans use skill.....like in BMX

Answer 2

It probably is a contributing factor.  I recall reading that there are now 32 gold medals awarded in swimming (16 male / 16 female), whereas at the 1956 Melbourne games there were only 16.  So if that sort of increase has occurred across other events it certainly helps.

Answer 3

When a sport is added to the Olympic schedule, it usually means that another sport , or event has to be dropped, to make way for BMX the track kilometre time trial had to be dropped this year.

This year there are 28 sports, the same as 2004, but two sports will be dropped for the 2012 Summer Olympics, the number of sports will fall back to twenty-six following an IOC vote in early 2006 deciding the removal of baseball and softball from the Olympic program.

So there are not more medals being presented this year than in 2004, and there will be fewer in 2012