American and Canadian gold medals

[uncle_wiggily]

Meh, Canada makes up for the lack of summer medals with a crapload of winter medals.

plus, the USA and china will always be 1, 2 in medals b/c of all the money they have behind it

Money is not the only factor in success. In fact, in my opinion it is not extremely important. Two of the biggest factors are top coaches and top-notch training facilities. Another big factor is support for the athletes, not necessarily monetary, but fan support, social support, etc.

Well, what causes the top coaches and training facilities?

Dun Dun Do Do Do Dun Dun, Money...

Not necessarily for coaches, yes, money is a factor for training facilities, but I do not believe that is what people are complaining about. The majority of people I have heard speak on the matter, talk about offering the athletes monetary incentive, which I do not feel is the answer. As jkrdevil mentioned, population size is a significant factor. You look at us, we have spread ourselves so thinly, whereas other smaller countries who are winning medals have events that they specialize in. For example, the Ethiopians, Kenyans, Morrocans; they all specialize in the distance events on the track and are thus very successful at it.

What??? Coaches coach for free nowadays?? The reasons some countries specialise in some events is that they have a natural dispensation for it (i may have just made up a word there!) The way of lifde for Kenyans, Ethipioans, and some ofther africans makes a great groiunding for long distance running, for instance. that dioesn't mean good coaching doesn't count in other events, and that costs money. Britain have done well in Sydney, SLC and athens because they are better funded now, and pay for the best coaches.

I never said they coached for free. However, paying for top coaches does not cost nearly as much money as paying for elite athletes. Whereas, when you look at the countries that specialize in a select few events, even though they may have meager funds as compared to the big nations, they are able to afford the best of the best. But so as not to contradict myself, money is not the deciding factor. You look at the African countries which dominate the distance events on the track, those events are apart of their culture, very much like hockey is here in Canada. That attitude that their entire culture has towards those events supports a winning mentality and the results show; again much like hockey in Canada.

[Saintsfan]

Yeah but money helps... a lot.

[uncle_wiggily]

Yeah but money helps... a lot.

No doubt it helps, but not as much as you think.

[wheateater]

Yeah but money helps... a lot.

So does thin mountain air for Kenyans, Ethiopians, and other African nations.

[CZzyzx41]

The reasons some countries specialise in some events is that they have a natural dispensation for it (i may have just made up a word there!)

Not to be a freakin ninny about this whole thing but thought I'd just educate you a bit:

dis·pen·sa·tion (dspn-sshn, -pn-) n.

1.

1. The act of dispensing.

2. Something dispensed.

3. A specific arrangement or system by which something is dispensed.

2. An exemption or release from an obligation or rule, granted by or as if by an authority.

3.

1. An exemption from a church law, a vow, or another similar obligation granted in a particular case by an ecclesiastical authority.

2. The document containing this exemption.

4. Theology.

1. The divine ordering of worldly affairs.

2. A religious system or code of commands considered to have been divinely revealed or appointed.

I believe the word you meant to use was:

dis·po·si·tion (dsp-zshn) n.

1. One's usual mood; temperament: a sweet disposition.

2.

1. A habitual inclination; a tendency: a disposition to disagree.

2. A physical property or tendency: a swelling with a disposition to rupture.

3. Arrangement, positioning, or distribution: a cheerful disposition of colors and textures; a convoy oriented into a north-south disposition.

4. A final settlement: disposition of the deceased's property.

5. An act of disposing; a bestowal or transfer to another.

6.

1. The power or liberty to control, direct, or dispose.

2. Management; control.

[habsfannova]

The reasons some countries specialise in some events is that they have a natural dispensation for it (i may have just made up a word there!)

Not to be a freakin ninny about this whole thing but thought I'd just educate you a bit:

dis·pen·sa·tion (dspn-sshn, -pn-) n.

1.

1. The act of dispensing.

2. Something dispensed.

3. A specific arrangement or system by which something is dispensed.

2. An exemption or release from an obligation or rule, granted by or as if by an authority.

3.

1. An exemption from a church law, a vow, or another similar obligation granted in a particular case by an ecclesiastical authority.

2. The document containing this exemption.

4. Theology.

1. The divine ordering of worldly affairs.

2. A religious system or code of commands considered to have been divinely revealed or appointed.

I believe the word you meant to use was:

dis·po·si·tion (dsp-zshn) n.

1. One's usual mood; temperament: a sweet disposition.

2.

1. A habitual inclination; a tendency: a disposition to disagree.

2. A physical property or tendency: a swelling with a disposition to rupture.

3. Arrangement, positioning, or distribution: a cheerful disposition of colors and textures; a convoy oriented into a north-south disposition.

4. A final settlement: disposition of the deceased's property.

5. An act of disposing; a bestowal or transfer to another.

6.

1. The power or liberty to control, direct, or dispose.

2. Management; control.

Man, I've learned this lesson before....

Try not to do that, you're just opening yourself up when you screw up...VERY bad karma.

[IceCap]

retromanic, was ur post intended to put us cunucks down? well it didnt work. u see up here in the dominion of canada (and yes, i like the name "dominion," its unique) we see our olympic athletes differntly then u do down in the united states of america. up here, just being selected to go to the games is an honor. a metal is just icing on the cake (except for hockey, then its gold, or u die ). and then it dosnt even matter what medal it is. gold is nice, but we dont treat our bronze, silver, and non medal winners with less respect then our gold medal winners. down in america, its not enough to be selected, ur olympics arnt conciderd "worthy" if u dont win a medal. and then ur olympics arnt conciders a TRUE success unless u win a gold. for proof of this just look at the usa vs agebtina bball thread. ur team wins a bronze medal, and u guys are saying stuff like "usa basketball sucks" and "im ashamed to be an american." come on now. u won a medal. sure its not the gold, but out of all the best bball teams in the world, u guys are in the top 3. thats a pretty big accomplishment, and something for ur nation can hang its hat on.

[DEAD!]

WARNING TO USA: Be prepared for Beijing 2008.

[IronChefShark]

down in america, its not enough to be selected, ur olympics arnt conciderd "worthy" if u dont win a medal. and then ur olympics arnt conciders a TRUE success unless u win a gold.

*cough*NancyKerrigan*cough*

WHHHHHHHHHHHHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY???????

[Nick 1733]

Okay, I'm an American and happy that we have so many olypians (sp?) to send to the olypics every year.

The basketball team at least won a bronze, that's great, especially considering that four of who would have been the starting five didn't even go. That's the amazing part.

Canada isn't known for winning much at the summer games, but they make up for it at the winter games.

I actually the Canadian diver (can't remember how to spell his name) had won the gold.

[AbbeyBF42]

Actually, the US team isn't government funded, last time i checked. They have to pay their own way or find a sponsor. i actually think that Pamela Anderson picked up one of the female athletes tabs. Frankly, as an American, I'm sick and tired of seeing us win so much. i mean, it is nice, but a majority of Amricans are jackarses and only get a build up from the olympics. The only way I'm at all dissapointed in the American team is the fact that our baseball couldn't make it, that's very disappointing to me. But i'm insanely proud of the softball team, they did a great job, and I'm even proud of those teams that didn't win anything, because you can't win 'em all. And that's what i think.