yeah, when you look from Margo's point of view us Europeans can be happy after all - it happens very rarely that we have to watch stuff so late or so early...
Here is a list of olympic winners judged by population, which is more fair,
true list of winners
Nice link.
That was Sydney.
Here's a more comprehensive list of olympic medals per capita since the last war.
Olympic Medals per capita since 1948
the Sydney list has small countries under one million listed separately,(on the bottom) which seems ok too.
Interesting links.
Doesn't the per-capita approach change the perspective!?
At the same time, we must remember that the number of athletes/teams per event per nation is limited.
For example, a nation is allowed only one boxer or wrestler per weight, only three runners per track race, one one rowing team per event, only one basketball team, etcetera.
True, but if you can select your team from 280 million (USA) you have an advantage over a country with 20 million (Australia).
Or so it seems. The Aussies are much more sportsminded than other countries. (except the Cubans).
True, but -for example- Brazil could easily place two football (soccer) teams in the World Cup final round, but is allowed to place only one (which is fair).
One thing about "sportmindedness": Cubans vis a vis Australians.
As I understand (correct me if I'm wrong), sport is some sort of a popular religion in Australia. It has its heretics, but they're a minority.
Cubans love baseball. Period.
They excell in other Olympic sports because of the effort the State puts into "building" prime class athletes.
For example, football (soccer) is played much more than volleyball, a sport most Cubans have never ever practiced.
Yet Cuba is a volleyball powerhouse. Why? Because they pick the would-be volleyball stars since they are children and lead them through special schools.
That is quite true. The Cubans remind me of the East Germans during their Communist era. The state pushes all promising youngsters into programs to create world champions.
The Aussies get a lot of money for sports, but they do it out of passion.
