Why has the American media shown an Olympic medals table based on total medals won?

Question

This is the first time in history American media has chosen to use this method. The official method is to display rank according to Gold medals won. Is this another case of American media manipulating the American people?

Answer 1

Relax.  It's an interesting way to look at performance.  Not everything is a conspiracy.

Answer 2

I didn't know it's the first time they do so--thanks for the info--but I did notice the odd fact. Did you read NBC reporter Abrahamson's article in which he says that if each member of the volleyball/basketball teams gets a gold medal then the U.S. would surpass China by a lot. That's just so laughable! Why didn't he say this in the past Olympics?

Answer 3

I would say that is exactly what they are doing, they have made it seem as though USA performed the best in these olympics. Over here in Australia and every other country in the world, we see China as the leading nation in these 2008 olympics.

Answer 4

because the USA changes things to better suit them,

like when the worlds fastest man was not from the USA the said the fastest man was the winner of the 200m

Answer 5

They started ranking it that way from the beginning of the games. they didn't switch halfway.

Ranking only by gold isn't necessarily the best either as it eliminates contributions of silver and bronze.

Answer 6

The paper in my area, a paper owned by the Gannett Company, has been showing the ranking by who won the most gold medals, that would be the Chinese, with the USA second.  The Gannett Company is a very large company and owns papers all over the US, so I do know that they have been reporting it that way.  As far as the TV media, I have not been watching the news.  

But, I would like to know how all the other countries that have won gold medals have been showing the medal race.  Has Australia been showing all the gold medals that the Chinese and US have won or are they showing the gold medals that their athletes have won?  How about England, France, Spain?  I am sure that all these countries have been pushing their gold medal wins aside and showing the Chinese first, then the USA and then all the other countries that have won more gold medals than them and then honoring their athletes!  (Emphasis on the sarcasm).  

We are very proud of our athletes, as all the other countries are of theirs.  We have a right to report the medal wins as we see fit.  

Answer 7

False! The American media has always showed metal tables the same way. Here are some examples in past summer games results:

1896 Athens, Greece  

               1. Greece       10        18         19          47

               2. U.S.A.        11          7          2          20

1912 Stockholm, Sweden  

                     1.Sweden       24          24         17        65

                     2. U.S.A.        25          19         19        63

1964 Tokyo, Japan  

          1.Soviet Union   30          31          35         96

          2. U.S.A.          36          26          28         90

In all 3 examples, the United States was first in gold medals, but was second in the rankings.  The rankings have been like this for every Summer and Winter Olympics. It's just the way America has done it.

There is no such thing as a "official method ranking of medals."

Besides, the American people can judge the medal tables any which way they d**n well please!

In future references, you may want to do some research, before you put out false & mis-leading statements.

Answer 8

Maybe  

Answer 9

do you know how many times this question has been asked since the olympics began?

Answer 10

Yes it is indeed.

Answer 11

i cant believe this question is still being asked.

Answer 12

idk about you dude, but i always looked at the total medal count, and was viewed the total medal count. meaning all medals. the US never really dominated in gold medals. besides that, why are you asking this question that soo many have asked allready? are you manipulating the american minds by telling them how they should be counting the medals?