Comments on: Who actually won the Beijing Olympic Medal Race? http://thekaufmannpost.net/who-actually-won-the-beijing-olympic-medal-race/ Transparency, corruption and governance matters, evidence-based Thu, 18 Mar 2010 21:33:06 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Salahan http://thekaufmannpost.net/who-actually-won-the-beijing-olympic-medal-race/comment-page-1/#comment-838 Salahan Fri, 31 Oct 2008 08:49:25 +0000 http://thekaufmannpost.net/?p=177#comment-838 Does anyone forget about India??? She's a so call democratic nation and a non-muslim, surely there's lots of talent there.... Does anyone forget about India??? She’s a so call democratic nation and a non-muslim, surely there’s lots of talent there….

]]> By: Ed http://thekaufmannpost.net/who-actually-won-the-beijing-olympic-medal-race/comment-page-1/#comment-697 Ed Fri, 29 Aug 2008 21:15:31 +0000 http://thekaufmannpost.net/?p=177#comment-697 Another reason why countries do not have equal chances to win Olympic medals (ceteris paribus) is the extent of female participation in sports. This is especially relevant for socially conservative Muslim countries that elect not to draw athletes from more than 50% of their population, thereby choosing to ignore a pool of talent that will lessen their chances to win medals. They de facto opt out of 50% of the disciplines. Besides, those countries that do field female athletes tend to recruit them among non-conservative strata of society, which are a minority, thus contributing to narrow the pool of talented female athletes. This factor is in part responsible for the poor performance of Muslim countries in the Olympics. Indeed, the first predominantly Muslim country in the medal ranking is Kazakhstan (29th), followed by secular Turkey (37), then Azerbaijan (39) and Uzbekistan (40). If you consider that the last two countries and Kazakhstan are heirs to the great Soviet-era tradition of excellence in sports, and that they are still influenced by secular trends inherited from communism, then the record of Muslim countries is even more dismal: Indonesia (ranked 42nd, despite being one of the most populous nations on earth) and Iran (ranked 51st, with two medals) would then top the list of medal-winning Muslim countries. Another reason why countries do not have equal chances to win Olympic medals (ceteris paribus) is the extent of female participation in sports. This is especially relevant for socially conservative Muslim countries that elect not to draw athletes from more than 50% of their population, thereby choosing to ignore a pool of talent that will lessen their chances to win medals. They de facto opt out of 50% of the disciplines. Besides, those countries that do field female athletes tend to recruit them among non-conservative strata of society, which are a minority, thus contributing to narrow the pool of talented female athletes. This factor is in part responsible for the poor performance of Muslim countries in the Olympics.

Indeed, the first predominantly Muslim country in the medal ranking is Kazakhstan (29th), followed by secular Turkey (37), then Azerbaijan (39) and Uzbekistan (40). If you consider that the last two countries and Kazakhstan are heirs to the great Soviet-era tradition of excellence in sports, and that they are still influenced by secular trends inherited from communism, then the record of Muslim countries is even more dismal: Indonesia (ranked 42nd, despite being one of the most populous nations on earth) and Iran (ranked 51st, with two medals) would then top the list of medal-winning Muslim countries.

]]> By: Kaufmann http://thekaufmannpost.net/who-actually-won-the-beijing-olympic-medal-race/comment-page-1/#comment-692 Kaufmann Fri, 29 Aug 2008 01:21:06 +0000 http://thekaufmannpost.net/?p=177#comment-692 The application is rather cool, James -- your tip appreciated! In their own site and app, they may want to present aggregates based not only on simple sum medals (which give the same weight to gold, silver and bronze...). And they should not showcase a misleading measure of medals per GDP, which artificially inflates countries like Zimbabwe as mentioned in the blog entry. Check other exchanges on this same topic taking place at: http://governanceblog.worldbank.org/who-won-beijing-olympic-medal-race#comments The application is rather cool, James — your tip appreciated!

In their own site and app, they may want to present aggregates based not only on simple sum medals (which give the same weight to gold, silver and bronze…).

And they should not showcase a misleading measure of medals per GDP, which artificially inflates countries like Zimbabwe as mentioned in the blog entry.

Check other exchanges on this same topic taking place at: http://governanceblog.worldbank.org/who-won-beijing-olympic-medal-race#comments

]]> By: james http://thekaufmannpost.net/who-actually-won-the-beijing-olympic-medal-race/comment-page-1/#comment-678 james Thu, 28 Aug 2008 07:42:57 +0000 http://thekaufmannpost.net/?p=177#comment-678 Hi Kaufmann, Great Article! I agree - there is no superior way of ranking the order of medals. But there are different ways of looking at the data (as you point out). I found this widget that displays who won the 2008 Olympics from different perspectives. It displays medals won by total medal count and gold count. In addition it can show medals won per million inhabitant and per million dollar GDP. I think you might like it:-) http://www.youcalc.com/apps/1219403616554 Its easy to put on your blog Hi Kaufmann,
Great Article!
I agree – there is no superior way of ranking the order of medals. But there are different ways of looking at the data (as you point out).

I found this widget that displays who won the 2008 Olympics from different perspectives.
It displays medals won by total medal count and gold count.
In addition it can show medals won per million inhabitant and per million dollar GDP.

I think you might like it:-)
http://www.youcalc.com/apps/1219403616554

Its easy to put on your blog

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