The USA reports Olympic standings in Number of Medals and the rest of the world weighs them by medal...?

Question

Do you think this is skewed because the Americans are losing in the overall international standings? China has nearly double the gold medals.

Answer 1

It is skewed, but China does have an advantage being on home turf. Earlier the Olympic reporters on T.V. were talking about if the loudness of the cheering for China (Much Louder than anyone else) was effecting the score in certain events.

Answer 2

Dude, get a hobby, who cares how Americas do it. you do it your lame way and we will do it our way.

Are you really that jealous of Americas, quit whining and crying about it, it's pathetic.

Answer 3

In my opinion, it is a good way to scale a country's sports power based on the numbering the golden metals, the sliver metals and bronze metals orderly. Because everyone wants to be the number one on the races.USA is not as strong as last century. But they still want to be the occupier of sports.So they want to be standing in number of medals. Of course, this doesn't mater. Fact is fact. most of the people in the world has put their eyes on China because they believe China will have a good harvest on Beijing 2008 Olypimc games this time.  China is getting more and more strong.  

Answer 4

I would say yes but your question is going to be deleted because angry americans will complain  

Answer 5

American really annoying in this Olympic. Really sick of their complain.

Answer 6

The USA media stands by virtues of collective numbers of medals.This is a sign of the America No.1 mentality. If America is No. 1  in gold;then the situation would likely changes. Anyway, the world shall be more open-minded to accept American as the No 1 in medal count.

Stay No 1 USA.

Answer 7

The conventional way the world does is by Gold medals

But America is the only country that goes by Total medals, while every other country goes Gold medals

Kinda like the metric system..

Anyways, if you REALLY wanna know whos winning, you go by the point system

Gold = 3 points

Silver = 2 points

Bronze = 1 point

Last time I checked China was winning by 15 or so points

Just did the math and

USA = 140 points

China = 159 points.

Answer 8

It is a skewed view of the media here in the U.S.

but trust me, everybody knows its all about the Gold

F the point system

Its all about the Gold

Answer 9

The Americans aren't losing...they just aren't doing as well gold-wise as the Chinese.  The Chinese have now replaced the Russians who were the US' biggest competition during the Cold War.

Tallying up the medals the way the US has--namely by counting all medals equally rather than dividing by gold, silver and bronze--is definitely skewed but for the Americans who need emotional uplifting in this troubled economy and drawn-out war, some excuse to feel good.

Answer 10

Yes, it is skewed.  When USA had most number of gold medals, they bragged so much on the number of world champions they produced.  But now when USA has less gold medals, USA media focused on number of medals.  But the olympic rankings to the international viewers has always been on the champions and, hence, on the number of gold medals achieved.  Even if we were to count points based on number of medals (gold=3, silver=2, bronze=1), China is still leading far ahead of USA.

Americans need the "feel-good" factor . . . . . . . as the economy and the sub-prime crisis are weighing heavily on them.

Answer 11

    The American media thinks average Americans care about the Olympics and would probably list the U.S. in first in whatever way possible.  If you want the truth, people in America only acknowledge the existence of the Olympics because the Basketball, Football, and Basketball seasons still havent resumed by early August.  

    Its not that American's think they are superior, but they simply don't care about events like weightlifting, diving, badminton, table tennis, equestrian, and even swimming.  Interest peaked during the Cold War when American identity was at stake and the country was very insecure.  Times have changed drastically since then however.

    The American mentality towards the Olympics now is: If we win, great, we love winning, but if we lose, who cares?  The "Chinese-American rivalry" doesn't really exist over here, at least at this point in time.  Over here, not much is known about China, and interest is mostly manifested in a positive curiosity among the younger generation.  Basically what im trying to say is, Americans aren't trying to downplay the success of the Chinese or assert themselves.

     My advice to you is, don't invest much brainpower in the activities of the American media.