Why do world powers dominate the Olympics?

Question

Why do world powers dominate the Olympics?

Answer 1

They have more $ for training

Answer 2

We have the most money to train our athletes.

Answer 3

They have the best training facilities, and a larger number of athletes to choose from.

Answer 4

The U.S. pwns EVERYTHING and they should be pwn'g the Olympics too.  

Answer 5

Not true, Australia isn't a world power and they have a pretty good track record. Larger nations have more representatives, but it also depends on which olympics. Smaller nations might be better at winter sports. Austria dominates many of the winter games categories. Switzerland also does well in the winter games - both are small countries, and not world/superpowers.

For years the US and China did not win medals in certain sports - it took generations to build their teams. You are looking at a lot of hard work over the years and generalizing. Russia also built up their teams over a period. Whatever the size of the country - a lot of time and effort is needed, there is no overnight olympic level athlete.

Richer nations may have more money and resources for training - but smaller nations do well too - depends on the sport.

Answer 6

It all takes resources and a population from which to choose your team.  Tiny countries can't compete.

Answer 7

they usually have lots of money, large populations, and most important, a desire to compete and be the best. loser countries call this jingoism and say it's wrong. again, that's loser talk. winners want to take home gold medals and show that their country is the best!

Answer 8

Because they pour money and resources into winning games, whereas countries with more realistic problems tend to have to spend their resources elsewhere.

In Australia it was deemed a national disgrace when we only won a few medals at the 1976 Olympics, so the Australian Institute of Sport was established. This monstrosity costs many millions every year. It takes the best medical specialists out of public health so they can attend to the every whim of human racehorses. Thier library has its own satellite dish to record in real time every world championship-level sports event anywhere in the world, and AIS 'students' can watch these in private boooths at a time of their choosing. There is a fully equipped video/audio recording studio so they can make promotional videos of themselves for sponsors. No real learning happens in this library, and most AIS 'students' are largely removed from the guidance of parents, who are replaced with full-time coaches (read: failed sports people) upon whom the students come to rely for emotional and moral support far beyond the capabilities of their limited, sports-orientated training.

Meanwhile, the public library down the road has limited materials for school kids, and university students who actually help real people with their knowledge have to pay back tens, or even hundreds of thousands of dollars for their education, whereas AIS 'students' repay nothing.

Of course, there have always been countries that use the Olympics to glorify themselves politically, starting with Hitler in 1936. The IOC was run for years by people with close ties to the murderous fascist France regime. It is little wonder that China, which harvests organs from executed political and religious dissidents, wanted to be on board.

But all this is 'loser talk' and jingoism rules, eh Alicia?

Answer 9

They have the best athletes and best training.