NationStates Jolt Archive

Wow, 49 medalls for less then 20 million citizens (17G, 16, S, 16, B) this is an absolute record. You guys made the nations with more citizens just ridiculous (allways nice to see).

Congretulations!

What is the secret? How much sport do you people do at school and in daily life? Or is it just the better facilities?

Wow, 49 medalls for less then 20 million citizens (17G, 16, S, 16, B) this is an absolute record. You guys made the nations with more citizens just ridiculous (allways nice to see).

Congretulations!

What is the secret? How much sport do you people do at school and in daily life? Or is it just the better facilities?

lots of time spent wrestling crocs

Look at India...one medal....

I think its the Steve Irwin Effect. ;)

Yeah even though the US still has the most medals! Thank you Mrs Basil. Try again.

I wonder... just for gits and shiggles...

I wonder which nation has the most medals PER OLYMPIC ATHLETE. That'd be a good judge of success.

Is it the U.S.A.? If I had to guess, I'd think Great Britain. Anybody willing to do the research?

How about a congratulations to all the athletes that participated in the games period?

Thank you Mrs Basil.

You're welcome. Allways glad to give you a helping hand about sport with good information.;), Mrs. HannibalSmith (wich is banned for flaiming and had the same IP adress as Mrs.MoeHoward (also banned) :cool: ).

How about a congratulations to all the athletes that participated in the games period?

Wich is indeed the most important of all.

I wonder... just for gits and shiggles...

I wonder which nation has the most medals PER OLYMPIC ATHLETE. That'd be a good judge of success.

Is it the U.S.A.? If I had to guess, I'd think Great Britain. Anybody willing to do the research?

no, because they dont just let anyone compete. What if only one Indian made it to the olympics?

Yeah even though the US still has the most medals! Thank you Mrs Basil. Try again.

But you guys have 15 times as many people as us, how would you go with say just 20 million instead of 300, face it were the best!

In 1976 the Australian team returned from the Montreal games with a paltry 5 medals, I think it was two silvers and three bronze, as a result the high tech Australian Institute of Sport was established in Canberra, and we are now reaping the medals as a result.

This time at Athens we came 4th, at Beijing we will go one better and grab third.

Hail Australia!

no, because they dont just let anyone compete. What if only one Indian made it to the olympics?

Then if he medaled, then India would have a very high medal-athlete ratio. :)

Yes, I was amazed at how well our athletes did - oddly enough, much better than when we held the games here in 2000.

Yes, I was amazed at how well our athletes did - oddly enough, much better than when we held the games here in 2000.

I think its a flow on effect from those games.

But you guys have 15 times as many people as us, how would you go with say just 20 million instead of 300, face it were the best!

Hail Australia!


Of course you are the best, but MoeH. can not stand it :p He is still in shock after this medal/pro capita comparision... ;)

I wonder... just for gits and shiggles...

I wonder which nation has the most medals PER OLYMPIC ATHLETE. That'd be a good judge of success.

Is it the U.S.A.? If I had to guess, I'd think Great Britain. Anybody willing to do the research?

I'd like to, but I can't seem to find a list of athlete numbers to compare against the medal counts.

I wouldn't be surprised if it was still Australia, honestly. If I remember correctly from my visit, that's a very fit population. I'm sure the U.S. would still come out with a very favorable result, though.

I wouldn't be surprised if it was still Australia, honestly. If I remember correctly from my visit, that's a very fit population. I'm sure the U.S. would still come out with a very favorable result, though.

Not really, we have the same obesity problem as America, due to bad parenting and schooling, but this is being slowly turned around now, as kids are being encouraged sucessfully to eat healthier food and exercise more, I think this is mainly because we dont want our struggling hospital system to be overloaded with millions of overweight and unhealthy people in thirty years time.
There are a lot of teenage eyesores of both sexes walking about now, not necessarily obese, but very weak and unhealthy looking.
We have always loved sport more than anything, and most kids over here try and play some sport, its probably to do with the sunny climate we have more than anything.

I wonder... just for gits and shiggles...

I wonder which nation has the most medals PER OLYMPIC ATHLETE. That'd be a good judge of success.

Is it the U.S.A.? If I had to guess, I'd think Great Britain. Anybody willing to do the research?

Micheal Phelps! USA!

8 total Medals! 6 Gold 2 Silver

I like to say congrats to all athletes.

But you guys have 15 times as many people as us, how would you go with say just 20 million instead of 300, face it were the best!

In 1976 the Australian team returned from the Montreal games with a paltry 5 medals, I think it was two silvers and three bronze, as a result the high tech Australian Institute of Sport was established in Canberra, and we are now reaping the medals as a result.

This time at Athens we came 4th, at Beijing we will go one better and grab third.

Hail Australia!


Wierd. I was just watching the CBC and they talked about that. We (Canada) need something like that, because we waste all our money that goes to our elite athletes. We only got 12 medals in Athens. 3 gold, 6 silver, and 3 bronze. :(

Stop the press everyone.... the australians came 3rd.

http://www.abs.gov.au/Ausstats/abs@.nsf/5f1e01afb32859f9ca25697500217f48/be9f47591541e29eca256ef40004f25a!OpenDocument

That is the Australian Bureau of statistics report which putsBahamas at number one, Norway in 2nd and Australia 3rd. (New Zealand in 6th too which makes me happy)

grrrr, why didnt that appear as a hyperlink?

Wierd. I was just watching the CBC and they talked about that. We (Canada) need something like that, because we waste all our money that goes to our elite athletes. We only got 12 medals in Athens. 3 gold, 6 silver, and 3 bronze. :(

You need to establish an Institute of Sport like we have in one city like Van Couver, and bring all your scientific sporting minds and coaches together with your atheletes, build top grade facilitys to train and live in, offer scholarships at schools for your top atheletic kids like we do to get there.
Kids who go to the AIS also get a good education as well.
If your country sets up one now you would be reaping the rewards in twenty years time like we started too.
We noticed the medal tally going right up at the Atlanta games.
Get on to it, Canada deserves better.

Stop the press everyone.... the australians came 3rd.

http://www.abs.gov.au/Ausstats/abs@.nsf/5f1e01afb32859f9ca25697500217f48/be9f47591541e29eca256ef40004f25a!OpenDocument

That is the Australian Bureau of statistics report which putsBahamas at number one, Norway in 2nd and Australia 3rd. (New Zealand in 6th too which makes me happy)

In fact if you compare all medals won per capita, Aussie comes 2nd (behind Bahamas). Unfortunately this comparison also pushes Kiwiland down to 14th :(

China comes 53rd in golds and 70th for gold medals, all medals respectively.
USA comes 34th and 39th respectively.
And to make you Cunucks feel a bit better, you came 38th for golds AND for all medals. That's 1 ahead of the US for all medals :p

I especially like the China thing. I'm going to print this out. I've recently moved to HK and I've had to put up with their huge jingoistic obsession and constant harping on about how great China is. And then the ineveitable sniggers when they ask me how NZ did. Usually their english isn't good enough to understand population comparisons, so I can show them this chart.
Speaking of China, if you think the US is terrible in it's Olympic programme you should watch Chinese TV. I watched a race the other day that only showed the Chinese athlete the whole way. She came 7th. There was no mention of the medal winners at all. If there were no Chinese athletes in the race they wouldn't show it. So I had to rely on the internet to follow how NZ was doing.
BTW the biggest reason Chinese athletes are doing so well is because they have an incredible govt. run athletic training system in place for drug use. It's basically like the US back in the eighties where because it was strictly controlled by the governing body the athletes were off them in time for competition and they weren't tested when they were on them. So come 2008 they'll clean up. They're spending US$37 Billion on their Olympics. How can any country compete against that sort of money?

[Mr Basil Fawlty]Ha! You guys got beat by the Bahamas![/Mr Basil Fawlty]

You need to establish an Institute of Sport like we have in one city like Van Couver, and bring all your scientific sporting minds and coaches together with your atheletes, build top grade facilitys to train and live in, offer scholarships at schools for your top atheletic kids like we do to get there.
Kids who go to the AIS also get a good education as well.
If your country sets up one now you would be reaping the rewards in twenty years time like we started too.
We noticed the medal tally going right up at the Atlanta games.
Get on to it, Canada deserves better.
Yes but unfortunately Canada like NZ always does poorly every 4 years and then complains and then says something should be done and everyone always points out the Aussie institute as a great example. And after a couple of weeks complaining it's forgotten and nothing's done until the next embarassment 4 years later. I can remember a Kiwi institute being promoted after the Seoul Olympics, and then every 4 years thereafter (sometimes 2 if we did badly at the Commonwealth games).
I wonder whether the 8 golds NZ got at LA were in fact tainted cause it gave us a sense of superiority and made us over-estimate our ability over the next few Olympics.

But you guys have 15 times as many people as us, how would you go with say just 20 million instead of 300, face it were the best!

In 1976 the Australian team returned from the Montreal games with a paltry 5 medals, I think it was two silvers and three bronze, as a result the high tech Australian Institute of Sport was established in Canberra, and we are now reaping the medals as a result.

This time at Athens we came 4th, at Beijing we will go one better and grab third.

Hail Australia!

Of course, it wasn't so much that we only got 5 at montreal. It was more that the New Zealanders got more than 5 that year, which was embarrassing since New Zealand is so much like us, but much smaller (and with flightless birds instead of crocs and spiders).

Under the Southern cross I stand
A proud native of this great land
(or a can of VB in my hand)
points at NZ and laughs :)



Aussie aussie aussie!
OIOIOI!

did anyone watch the 400 freestyle relay I think it was. Well whatever it was it was the race that the Aussies hadn't lost for a good while and the Americans beat them. It was probably one of the greatest races of all times. I was cheering on the US the whole time.

did anyone watch the 400 freestyle relay I think it was. Well whatever it was it was the race that the Aussies hadn't lost for a good while and the Americans beat them. It was probably one of the greatest races of all times. I was cheering on the US the whole time.

The last time we medalled in that race was 1956.

Ok, well then can anyone help me out with what race it was?

did anyone watch the 400 freestyle relay I think it was. Well whatever it was it was the race that the Aussies hadn't lost for a good while and the Americans beat them. It was probably one of the greatest races of all times. I was cheering on the US the whole time.
Isn't it odd how the 'greatest race of all time' always happens to coincide with your team winning it? ;)

Ok, well then can anyone help me out with what race it was?

It wasn't one that we always win - it was just an important win.

the 200m relay.

The US used to always win it, until 4 years ago. They Boasted "We will play the Australians like a guitar" and we beat them, then our athletes got out of the pool and played air guitar to mock the US arrogance.

But this year the US won it back.

those arrogant bastards.

But this year the US won it back.

those arrogant bastards.

Yes, we are rather arrogant, and many of us are bastards. That's one of the driving forces behind my decision to relocate. I can't stand the arrogant bastards I live with, work with, go to school with, and inevitably end up socialising with. I suppose a lot of that comes from living in middle-America though. I'm surrounded by farmers and inbred hicks who think higher education is a waste of time and money, better spent on sitting in the bar every night, drinking whiskey and slipping dollar bills down the g-string of a particularly busty stripper. Oh well. I'll be gone soon enough. :D

Isn't it odd how the 'greatest race of all time' always happens to coincide with your team winning it? ;)

Eh, just because most of the time its heart breaking to see your team lose so you try to forget it.

Thanks EvilGnome, I think I got a couple of the relays mixed up.


Southern Shadowlands, I grew up on a farm and I know several farmers and I know that they do not thin kthat higher education is a waste. If anything farmers have to go to college now days to keep up with the technology of their machines. So before you bash a particular group, please think of what you are saying.

I grew up on a farm and I know several farmers and I know that they do not thin kthat higher education is a waste. If anything farmers have to go to college now days to keep up with the technology of their machines. So before you bash a particular group, please think of what you are saying.

I suppose I ought to ammend my statement then. Not all farmers think like that. Just the ones that live near me.

Under the Southern cross I stand
A proud native of this great land
(or a can of VB in my hand)
points at NZ and laughs :)

Aussie aussie aussie!
OIOIOI!
If I was still in Kiwiland I'd be holding a can of Monteiths in one hand and the Bledisloe cup in the other facing West. :p

As happy as I am about how well Australia did, here my quick n' nasty chart of "Gold medals per athlete sent" - looks like the United Arab Emirates were the real winners :p (When I get a chance I will try to present the data a little more comprehensivley)

http://home.ripway.com/2004-4/107213/Olympics2004Stats.html

(Note: countries who won zero medals are ommitted)

As happy as I am about how well Australia did, here my quick n' nasty chart of "Gold medals per athlete sent" - looks like the United Arab Emirates were the real winners :p (When I get a chance I will try to present the data a little more comprehensivley)

http://home.ripway.com/2004-4/107213/Olympics2004Stats.html

(Note: countries who won zero medals are ommitted)

And apparently Erritrea tied with them for it. This is why sorted lists are useful. No idea where you found the data for that though so well done.

Besides, I question the usefulness of "medals per athlete sent", because what if they didn't send people because they know they suck? Or even if they couldn't afford to send them, and should have earnt more medals?
I don't like it.

Of course you are the best, but MoeH. can not stand it :p He is still in shock after this medal/pro capita comparision... ;)
the real reason was New Zealand population back then 2 and a half million(4 mill now 3g 2s)got more medals including gold for hockey think we bet Australia too(they dont like that when we beat them) medals to population ratio Australia New Zealand and the Bahamas are up there isnt youre pop getting up to 25 mill now

Medals per capita is far more important I think.

The Bahamas, they are the real winners with 6.78 medals per million population.


http://photius.com/rankings/medals2.html

In 1976 the Australian team returned from the Montreal games with a paltry 5 medals, I think it was two silvers and three bronze, as a result the high tech Australian Institute of Sport was established in Canberra, and we are now reaping the medals as a result.



Hail Australia!
more appropriate this is the qoute i wanted
the real reason was New Zealand population back then 2 and a half million(4 mill now 3g 2s)got more medals including gold for hockey think we bet Australia too(they dont like that when we beat them) medals to population ratio Australia New Zealand and the Bahamas are up there isnt youre pop getting up to 25 mill now

i really should read the whole thread before commenting because the things ive said have already been mentioned!
****curses his luck wishs he could get better at showing off****

The famous Australian feminist Germaine Greer wrote an interesting article sometime ago about Australians and their obsession with sport. The gist of it was that Australia is a culture-free zone. That Australians have nothing better to do with their time than engage in sports for no apparent reason than to forget the nihilism and pointlessness of their existence. Actually, I always thought that that description could be just as well applied to Americans.

Did she have a Ph.D. in sociology or was it just a hobby? If I were an Australian...oh wait, the last line, and I'm American. I doubt the average American would agree with that, same for the Aussies.

Perhaps her statement is more a self-description than a cultural judgement of any value.

Anyways, you wanna know why the Aussies do so well? MARMITE

And apparently Erritrea tied with them for it. This is why sorted lists are useful. No idea where you found the data for that though so well done.

Besides, I question the usefulness of "medals per athlete sent", because what if they didn't send people because they know they suck? Or even if they couldn't afford to send them, and should have earnt more medals?
I don't like it.

Yeah, true, I tend to agree with you - the main reason I made the list was out of curiosity.

I got the data from a couple of sites, but it's all accurate as far as I know...

If I was still in Kiwiland I'd be holding a can of Monteiths in one hand and the Bledisloe cup in the other facing West. :p

Harhar, dont get to used to having it, next year your gorrrrrrrrrrrrrrn. :)

more appropriate this is the qoute i wanted
the real reason was New Zealand population back then 2 and a half million(4 mill now 3g 2s)got more medals including gold for hockey think we bet Australia too(they dont like that when we beat them) medals to population ratio Australia New Zealand and the Bahamas are up there isnt youre pop getting up to 25 mill now

No its just passed 20 mill, probably wont get to 25 mill until about the year 2020.

The famous Australian feminist Germaine Greer wrote an interesting article sometime ago about Australians and their obsession with sport. The gist of it was that Australia is a culture-free zone. That Australians have nothing better to do with their time than engage in sports for no apparent reason than to forget the nihilism and pointlessness of their existence. Actually, I always thought that that description could be just as well applied to Americans.

Greers an ugly manhating femdyke that should be chucked into a hessian sack with some starving hyenas and dropped by plane into the middle of the Pacific Ocean, with a public announcement made shortly afterwards so we can all celebrate.

We disowned her long before she disowned us, we have got alot of great artists and poets as well as sports stars.

It wasn't one that we always win - it was just an important win.

the 200m relay.

The US used to always win it, until 4 years ago. They Boasted "We will play the Australians like a guitar" and we beat them, then our athletes got out of the pool and played air guitar to mock the US arrogance.

But this year the US won it back.

those arrogant bastards.

I believe the quote was 'smash them like guitars'. and I personally thought that the 400m freestyle was a better race, 4 record holders( thorpe, hackett, phelps and van den hugenband) in the one race, of course ian the great winning helped boost my view of it.

As an aussie however, I would have to put our greatest acheivements to the baseball team, medalling for the first time, our men's hockey team, gold medal for the first time, and the opals, our women's basketball team played a great semi-final, but just couldn't get the shots in on the night to capitalise on court dominance.

[QUOTE=Michiganistania]Perhaps her statement is more a self-description than a cultural judgement of any value.

Spot on.

Anyways, you wanna know why the Aussies do so well? MARMITE

Wrong!!
Thats what the Kiwis like, we eat Vegemite which is more nutritious and tastier.

Yes, I was amazed at how well our athletes did - oddly enough, much better than when we held the games here in 2000.


I must say I was very suprised, I expected us to crash and burn in Athens but we did awesomely.

Ahh, right, of course. Do you too put it on pop-tarts? I'm thinking of doing my Master's in Australia, so i have something to look forward to.

Wow, 49 medalls for less then 20 million citizens (17G, 16, S, 16, B) this is an absolute record. You guys made the nations with more citizens just ridiculous (allways nice to see).

Congretulations!

What is the secret? How much sport do you people do at school and in daily life? Or is it just the better facilities?
Well considering alot of our facilites can be described as bellow par at best, and not many people are personally into sports. I'd like to take all the credit.

Greers an ugly manhating femdyke that should be chucked into a hessian sack with some starving hyenas and dropped by plane into the middle of the Pacific Ocean, with a public announcement made shortly afterwards so we can all celebrate.

We disowned her long before she disowned us, we have got alot of great artists and poets as well as sports stars.

While I mightn't use that exact terminology, I tend to agree with the sentiment. (Who says me and Terminalia would never agree on anything!) :p

While I mightn't use that exact terminology, I tend to agree with the sentiment. (Who says me and Terminalia would never agree on anything!) :p

I think nearly half the worlds population agree about Ms Greer :)

Ahh, right, of course. Do you too put it on pop-tarts? I'm thinking of doing my Master's in Australia, so i have something to look forward to.

What are you doing your Masters in?
And no we usually spread it on toast for breakfast.

1. It is vegemite and it goes on toast, you yanks say it tastes like motor oil, but we like it a lot
2. There are so few of us and we have so much land we all have to do the work of like 20 of you
3. We actually sink a fair bit of money time effort etc. into sports. People who dont do sports are abandoned at birth
4. Sport IS the national culture ms greer, not to mention all that cool culturey stuff down in melbourne and sydney
5. We do NOT have a fat problem, I am a young person and I can tell you all the people I know my age are reasonable sized, that fat crap is just some stuff someone made up to make us feel bad and think we are more american than we actually are
6. Our country just plain rocks, its like America before it got fat ;) just kidding america you know I love you!

What I like best about New Zealand's medals was the Aussies left in their wake. Some Aussie sheila reckoned she was going to win the individual pursuit in the cycling. She didn't, and got a world record dropped on her for her trouble. Some Aussie guy reckoned he was going to win the triathlon. He didn't. Kiwis finished first and second, and brought a Swiss guy along for the ride to keep the Aussie out of the medals. Was Astralia even entered in the kayaking and rowing? Who cares...

It doesn't matter if New Zealand isn't the best. Just as long as we beat Australia, who cares?

1. It is vegemite and it goes on toast, you yanks say it tastes like motor oil, but we like it a lot
2. There are so few of us and we have so much land we all have to do the work of like 20 of you
3. We actually sink a fair bit of money time effort etc. into sports. People who dont do sports are abandoned at birth
4. Sport IS the national culture ms greer, not to mention all that cool culturey stuff down in melbourne and sydney
5. We do NOT have a fat problem, I am a young person and I can tell you all the people I know my age are reasonable sized, that fat crap is just some stuff someone made up to make us feel bad and think we are more american than we actually are
6. Our country just plain rocks, its like America before it got fat ;) just kidding america you know I love you!

1. Vegemite is kangaroo shit. Marmite is far the superior.
2. Yeah, there's plenty of space to lose a few hundred stray Afghans in all that outback.
3. You need to get some new drug dealers. That last lot was crap because they got caught.
4. I heard about culture in Australia. Dame Edna Everage left some yoghurt in the back of the fridge and it went all hairy, which is about as cultured as Australia has got.
5. I see lots of fat Aussie tourists over here. Mind you, we send lots of fat, useless dole bludgers over there...
6. New Zealand is like Australia before it started sucking.

GG Aussies
but you lost the tri-nations in the meanwhile :p

I thought the bahamas had the most highest medals per population ratio?

What I like best about New Zealand's medals was the Aussies left in their wake. Some Aussie sheila reckoned she was going to win the individual pursuit in the cycling. She didn't, and got a world record dropped on her for her trouble. Some Aussie guy reckoned he was going to win the triathlon. He didn't. Kiwis finished first and second, and brought a Swiss guy along for the ride to keep the Aussie out of the medals. Was Astralia even entered in the kayaking and rowing? Who cares...

It doesn't matter if New Zealand isn't the best. Just as long as we beat Australia, who cares?
Yep they entered the rowing - the women's eights at least. But one of them (Sally ??) gave up at the 1500m point and they ended up coming 4th! Man, you'd feel gutted! The team all slagged her off at the media circus afterwards and then had to apologise because it made Aussie rowing look bad.
So even if Kiwis didn't medal, at least we never gave up!

The famous Australian feminist Germaine Greer wrote an interesting article sometime ago about Australians and their obsession with sport. The gist of it was that Australia is a culture-free zone. That Australians have nothing better to do with their time than engage in sports for no apparent reason than to forget the nihilism and pointlessness of their existence. Actually, I always thought that that description could be just as well applied to Americans.
Reminds me of a joke: "What's the difference between a pot of yoghurt and Australia?"
The pot of yoghurt has a live culture.

Aussie aussie aussie! OI! OI! OI!

As happy as I am about how well Australia did, here my quick n' nasty chart of "Gold medals per athlete sent" - looks like the United Arab Emirates were the real winners :p (When I get a chance I will try to present the data a little more comprehensivley)

http://home.ripway.com/2004-4/107213/Olympics2004Stats.html

(Note: countries who won zero medals are ommitted)
Before I criticise first let me say: Awesome work!
However.....
If you are going to compare medals per # of athletes competing, you need to remember there were several team events and they can only win one medal between all them. So for example if the US sent a soccer team , they might have sent 20 ppl (incl substitutes and for possible injury), yet only 1 medal would be counted towards their tally, not 20. So to be fair and accurate, you really have to go through each country's list and subtract all but one of the team players from each team sport.

Aussie aussie aussie! OI! OI! OI!
In case anyone outside of the big country is wondering, this passes for in-depth intelligent discussion on a wide range of philosophical concerns and issues.

hi :fluffle:

Before I criticise first let me say: Awesome work!
However.....
If you are going to compare medals per # of athletes competing, you need to remember there were several team events and they can only win one medal between all them. So for example if the US sent a soccer team , they might have sent 20 ppl (incl substitutes and for possible injury), yet only 1 medal would be counted towards their tally, not 20. So to be fair and accurate, you really have to go through each country's list and subtract all but one of the team players from each team sport.

Hmm, good point...however, sounds like waaay to much work for me. If anyone else wants to try it, feel free ;)

.... Or even if they couldn't afford to send them, and should have earnt more medals?
I don't like it.Thats why this stats is relevant...Because it gives some parity to Poor countries

So for example if the US sent a soccer team , they might have sent 20 ppl (incl substitutes and for possible injury),
That would make Paraguay the Absolute Best Performance...

32 athletes....27 medals.... 85% ratio

lots of time spent wrestling crocs

Look at India...one medal....

And don't forget Indonesia. 200 million population, only 4 medals. Losers... :D



China is more successful! Yeah China! Go ahead to 2008! *my great hometown* ^^;

What is the secret? How much sport do you people do at school and in daily life? Or is it just the better facilities?

The secret is, we have sport RAMMED down our throats from birth.

If you dont play at least 2 different sports, your only escape is becoming a fanatical fan...or else.

Even *I* have played 4 different sports at a club level and a martial art in my short lifetime...though now I only swim regulary and that's it.

We (Australia) are a very sports orientated society, and we have the perfect weather for it. No great secret.

The secret is, we have sport RAMMED down our throats from birth.

If you dont play at least 2 different sports, your only escape is becoming a fanatical fan...or else.

Even *I* have played 4 different sports at a club level and a martial art in my short lifetime...though now I only swim regulary and that's it.Me thinks it all from the "Montreal Shock"...the Gov decided to spent huge amounts of money and resources...in Olympic class sports...

RAMMING things down your Throats...cost a lot of Money :D

Me thinks it all from the "Montreal Shock"...the Gov decided to spent huge amounts of money and resources...in Olympic class sports...

RAMMING things down your Throats...cost a lot of Money :D

Maybe...but I think the country is just naturally sports mad.

(Oh no, I live in a jock owned hellhole!)

You come from a land DownUnder...
Where women...
Cant you hear...cant you hear the Thunder?

Yeah..congrats to the Aussies...well done.
OI OI OI OI ....

Medals per capita is far more important I think.

The Bahamas, they are the real winners with 6.78 medals per million population.


http://photius.com/rankings/medals2.html

I disagree. Australia, for example, sent roughly 5/6 as many athletes as the United States, even though they only have 1/15 as many people. The limits on number of athletes per country prevent population from really becoming a factor.

Medals per capita is far more important I think.

The Bahamas, they are the real winners with 6.78 medals per million population.


http://photius.com/rankings/medals2.html
WOW... 6.78 is awesome...
Congrats to the Bahamas too....

Hey, tell ya what, I didn't mind losing to the Kiwis once or twice, it's fair game.

I also noticed that australia did ALOT better than the land of the long white wank in canoeing.

For some reason though, I never once liked losing to the yanks. In fact I hated it. Probably because they always seem to come across as arrogant, conceited pricks.

Example... Any country in the world wins a silver... cheering is heard, I know we were exstatic when we won silver in the 4x400 relay... but do you ever see a happy yank with a silver around his/her neck? HELL NO.

Lol actually I didn't love it when the South Africans won that swimming relay either though. :p

Maybe...but I think the country is just naturally sports mad.

(Oh no, I live in a jock owned hellhole!)


Australia's too obsessed with sport... heaven for the sporties in the nation, but hell for overlarge clumpsters like myself

I think that tells a story itself. Funny thing is, I'm not a sporty person, and I don't even support a specific team, but I'm interested in sport as a spectator (and commentator, and tactician :D), and my nation is meant to be as sports-crazy as Australia...

Yep they entered the rowing - the women's eights at least. But one of them (Sally ??) gave up at the 1500m point and they ended up coming 4th! Man, you'd feel gutted! The team all slagged her off at the media circus afterwards and then had to apologise because it made Aussie rowing look bad.
So even if Kiwis didn't medal, at least we never gave up!

Thers something seriously wrong with laydown Sally, shes done this in five repeat 5 races beforehand, including the world championships in 02, 500 metres out when the Aussies were winning.

Why our dumbarse selectors kept picking her is anyones guess.

Personally I think shes a self centred attention seeker, I mean look at all the coverage she got out of it, and if she was truly sorry about what happenned why did she hang around afterwards for all the press conferences so putting her undeserving teammates through more hell, answer, attention.
She better not be in the welcome home parade on Pitt st, because if she is she will be cop heaps.

And its wrong to say the Aussies gave up Demented hamsters, once someone stops rowing, their listless oars get in the way of the rowers oars behind them and in front of them, thus slowing down the whole boat.

Those other poor girls trained for years for that event.

congratulations to all the athletes.

I believe the money spent on sports, especially in australia, could be somewhat better utilised than it is.

For instance, our struggling public health system and the meaningless and destructive competition it faces from the government's push for private health care.

As well, our public education system could use money too.

congratulations to all the athletes.

I believe the money spent on sports, especially in australia, could be somewhat better utilised than it is.

For instance, our struggling public health system and the meaningless and destructive competition it faces from the government's push for private health care.

As well, our public education system could use money too.

Maybe they could divert some of the billions spent each year making our Welfare system so cosy instead..

Well, this olympics was the worst to Finnish. only ONE MEDAL!

:confused: :eek: :( :headbang:

Well, this olympics was the worst to Finnish. only ONE MEDAL!

:confused: :eek: :( :headbang:

You need an AIS or in your case an FIS.

Hey dont you guys really clean up in the winter Olympics?
Australia only got its first medal in it ever last time, because all the other competiters in front of us stacked it in front of the finish line lol.

You need an AIS or in your case an FIS.

Hey dont you guys really clean up in the winter Olympics?
Australia only got its first medal in it ever last time, because all the other competiters in front of us stacked it in front of the finish line lol.

Well, it was a medal received in style, eh? :)

Well, this olympics was the worst to Finnish. only ONE MEDAL!

Well, two. 2 silvers. Which is excellent, considering Finland was 12th in 'most medals won in modern Olympic summer games' before these games (10th in gold medals). This time we were 62th, and were left without a gold medal for the first time! Please, invade us! - -or! let the ice age commence... we are better in winter sports...

What are you doing your Masters in?
And no we usually spread it on toast for breakfast.


Developmental Studies or International Trade. U of Melbourne has an outstanding program in the former, but the professor who built it moved across the street to some other university i'm unfamiliar with. My IM is jpelmaestro@hotmail.com I would love to talk with an Aussie more about the options

Wow, 49 medalls for less then 20 million citizens (17G, 16, S, 16, B) this is an absolute record. You guys made the nations with more citizens just ridiculous (allways nice to see).

Congretulations!

What is the secret? How much sport do you people do at school and in daily life? Or is it just the better facilities?
It's because we spend ludicrous amounts per athlete. It's a stupid waste of money if you ask me. It could be better spent on offering fitness activities to ordinary Australians so we aren't all so fat.

It's because we spend ludicrous amounts per athlete. It's a stupid waste of money if you ask me. It could be better spent on offering fitness activities to ordinary Australians so we aren't all so fat.

These people dont need assistance at all, simply keep away from that evil place McDonalds and ones like it, cook your own food and eat it at home, and start jogging.
Dont expect instant results in a year even, this is a life time committment remember and you have to stick to it, its called moderation on everything you eat, all those fat free foods and diets are bullshit, but do keep clear of the junkfood, thats a nono, especvially fizzy drink and chips.
Sorry but whether you like it or not, if you want to get skinny you have to suffer some pain!! :)

Developmental Studies or International Trade. U of Melbourne has an outstanding program in the former, but the professor who built it moved across the street to some other university i'm unfamiliar with. My IM is jpelmaestro@hotmail.com I would love to talk with an Aussie more about the options
Id help you but thats way over my head, good luck anyway.

Well, it was a medal received in style, eh? :)
Yeah it was his last attempt too, the guy had been trying to win a medal at the Winter Olympics for twelve years or something, then magically he got a chance right at the end and took it, pretty funny stuff on the news seeing all the European favourites stack it and the Aussie no hoper then goes around them and takes the Gold. :)

These people dont need assistance at all, simply keep away from that evil place McDonalds and ones like it, cook your own food and eat it at home, and start jogging.
Dont expect instant results in a year even, this is a life time committment remember and you have to stick to it, its called moderation on everything you eat, all those fat free foods and diets are bullshit, but do keep clear of the junkfood, thats a nono, especvially fizzy drink and chips.
Sorry but whether you like it or not, if you want to get skinny you have to suffer some pain!! :)
I'm already skinny.

Edit: The issue of this. Overwhelmingly poorer people tend to be fatter. So it's probably due to a lack of (a) education about healthy diets and (b) available services, both of which could be provided for by the money spent on higher athletes. Even if you don't think it's worth, there are still areas of government spending on which those millions could be better spent. Or even better, we could have a few less taxes!

Yeah even though the US still has the most medals! Thank you Mrs Basil. Try again.

I'f Australia had the population of the U.S Apparnetly Austrlia would have something like 300 golds or something.

1. Vegemite is kangaroo shit. Marmite is far the superior.
2. Yeah, there's plenty of space to lose a few hundred stray Afghans in all that outback.
3. You need to get some new drug dealers. That last lot was crap because they got caught.
4. I heard about culture in Australia. Dame Edna Everage left some yoghurt in the back of the fridge and it went all hairy, which is about as cultured as Australia has got.
5. I see lots of fat Aussie tourists over here. Mind you, we send lots of fat, useless dole bludgers over there...
6. New Zealand is like Australia before it started sucking.

Wow look how defensive they are! I barely refered to NZ and they start getting all upset! Makes me laugh. I think its jealousy really, I mean we have all the land and people and animals and economy and nz has well.... lord of the rings.

Hope you recover from your spas attack in time for your appointment with the sheep. :fluffle:

Thers something seriously wrong with laydown Sally, shes done this in five repeat 5 races beforehand, including the world championships in 02, 500 metres out when the Aussies were winning.

Why our dumbarse selectors kept picking her is anyones guess.

Personally I think shes a self centred attention seeker, I mean look at all the coverage she got out of it, and if she was truly sorry about what happenned why did she hang around afterwards for all the press conferences so putting her undeserving teammates through more hell, answer, attention.
She better not be in the welcome home parade on Pitt st, because if she is she will be cop heaps.

And its wrong to say the Aussies gave up Demented hamsters, once someone stops rowing, their listless oars get in the way of the rowers oars behind them and in front of them, thus slowing down the whole boat.

Those other poor girls trained for years for that event.
Too true. And after that happened, her team mates were called "Un-Australian" for yelling at her, but I think she was Un-Australian for giving up.

And I'd like to add, Marmite is disguisting. Vegemite is much better. I eat it raw.

Yes, I was amazed at how well our athletes did - oddly enough, much better than when we held the games here in 2000. Australia does have the second largest Greek community in the world. ;)

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (http://www.abs.gov.au/Ausstats/abs@.nsf/0/be9f47591541e29eca256ef40004f25a?OpenDocument) reckons that the most successful country in terms of medals per head of population was The Bahamas, with Norway second and Australian third. India was last.

Yay! Go Aussies!
We are naturally competitive folks, and sport and fitness are a big part of our schooling system. Thats why we're all morons :D

I kid. Kudos to the thread starter and congrats to our beautiful country :)

Congratulation Australia to place 4. Why are you so good, your few little Aussies?
Well more interesting is that Russia lost place 2 to China this time and that China is very close to the US. Very likely that they get the first place next time.
Also Japan did well, taking place 5 before Germany on place 6

And I'd like to add, Marmite is disguisting. Vegemite is much better. I eat it raw.

Marmites too sweet, vegemite soup is also a delicious hot drink, simply boil water add vegemite to taste, then stir.

Marmites too sweet, vegemite soup is also a delicious hot drink, simply boil water add vegemite to taste, then stir.
I've never heard of that before, I'll have to try it

And what's even worse than Marmite is the cheap Dick Smith stuff.

I've never heard of that before, I'll have to try it

And what's even worse than Marmite is the cheap Dick Smith stuff.

Cant say I tried it myself, but nothing will beat good ol vegemite, not even 'Old mate' an English yeast concoction I once tried and found agreeable, pity it cost nearly 6 bucks a jar.
No when it comes to the black stuff, vegemite stands tall and proud, above them all.

Congratulation Australia to place 4. Why are you so good, your few little Aussies?
Well more interesting is that Russia lost place 2 to China this time and that China is very close to the US. Very likely that they get the first place next time.
Also Japan did well, taking place 5 before Germany on place 6

USA 103 Total Medal
Rus 92 Total Medals
China 63 Total Medals
Aust 49 Total Medals
Germany 48 Total Medals

USA is 1st
Russia 2nd
China 3rd
Australia 4th
Germany 5th

Sorry Kabernetia but your wrong in regards to Russia, China, Germany and Japan.

USA 103 Total Medal
Rus 92 Total Medals
China 63 Total Medals
Aust 49 Total Medals
Germany 48 Total Medals

USA is 1st
Russia 2nd
China 3rd
Australia 4th
Germany 5th

Sorry Kabernetia but your wrong in regards to Russia, China, Germany and Japan.

It's not judged on total mdeals, but by the number of gold medals a country has, so actually YOU'RE wrong.