Why was the medal table manipulated ?

Question

This is the Athens medal tally as reported by USA Today four years ago. This clearly shows the table is ranked by Gold medal.

http://asp.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/athens/medals.aspx

However the exact same table compiled recently by USA Today for the Beijing games shows that it is now ranked by total medals.

http://content.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/beijing/medals.aspx

Why did USA Today suddenly change from ranking by gold to ranking by total ?

Answer 1

we have always used total medals

that is the alternate medal table

clearly note the asp in the address

here is the real one from usa today

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/...

and some more from past olympics

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/torino2...

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/files/olymp...

http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/winter02/i...

http://espn.go.com/oly/summer00/standing...

even on events http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/athens2...

Answer 2

First of all, let's make it clear once and for all bad readers : the first table is indeed based on gold medals, the second on total medals.

Reason is quite obvious : to insure USA is on top. Easy question, easy answer...

The question of which one is the most correct, is a philosophical question about which one can discuss for ages. But the official, Olympic ranking is according the number of gold medals...

Btw, check also their Torino 2006 Olympic standings : http://asp.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/... always based on gold medals...

Answer 3

maksddngo,

I think you should read carefuly before you post something that could embarrass yourself.  Go look again at the first link. It is clearly sorted by gold - not total !!  I think you have a real problem man !

Go back to primary school...

Answer 4

Gold means you are the best, no country tries to sweep up all the silvers and bronzes to come up top in the tally. Similarly, top endorsements are usually given to the gold medalists.

Answer 5

Um. how do you know that the first one is ranked by gold medals? o.O

USA has both most gold and most medals overall in the first one so it could be most medals.

Answer 6

I think it clearly shows that it is ranked by total count.

How can you look at that first link and blatantly LIE about what it's saying.

From the page at your first link:

"On the medal standings or medals-by-country page, click on each country's name to see a list of medalists from that nation.

In Sydney 2000, the top five countries in the final medal count were: USA 97 (40 gold), Russia 88 (32 gold), China 59 (28 gold), Australia 58 (16 gold), Germany 56 (13 gold)."

(Notice the use of the word 'medal count' (not gold medal count'. Noticed also how (golds) are only mentioned in passing, after total count? And the FACT that the table is indeed ranked by total count)

Total count has ALWAYS been reported in the USA. I should know, i've grown up here. It used to put the USSR ahead of us at times (even if we had more gold). But that's how it's always been reported here.  What you offered as 'proof' was a clear manipulation on your part. Why do you feel the need to do this? why are you so darn concerned with how the US ranks it's medal table? It simply doesn't matter.

The evidence you gave actually supports the claim that the US has always ranked by 'total medals'. You should be more careful next time.

go to http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2008/...

Click on 1964.. that should be all the 'proof' you need.

Another example of 1964 total count putting USSR ahead of USA:

http://www.databaseolympics.com/games/ga...

One from Sydney that is shown clearly ranked as medal count:

http://www.databaseolympics.com/games/ga...

You are right, I should have read more clearly. I just assumed.. after reading the part I quoted, which profusely talks of 'medal count', and looking at the top 10 rankings or so that it was ranked by medal count. I was also quick to assume because I've never seen a US table ranked by gold before. This one is truly an anomaly. Probably was compiled by some foreigner working for USA today.

Answer 7

Its not the first time they manipulated things to suit their agendas. The US media are the greatest liars and hypocrites. Championing freedom while creating lies to invade Iraq for oil and killing Afghans for revenge.

I'm not against American citizens, just the government and its media...

Answer 8

Excerpt :

.....China celebrated achieving its ultimate aim of heading the Olympic medals table for the first time. Unless you are in America, where you will discover that Team USA remain the force in world sport.........

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/o...