Brilliant analysis. NZ with 20 medals for a 5 million population was a star performer. Other factors to consider:
Paris Olympics is the first games to achieve full gender parity. In 1924 women made up only 4,4% of participants. Countries will differ, but equitable gender participation seems to be essential for a top overall performance. Could this be a factor in India's (population 1,5 billion) underperformance with only 5 medals?
Rich countries can fund sports with high barriers to participation - rowing, canoeing, sailing, equestrian etc. - and have the structures and means to pinpoint development and reward programmes. With new sports being added all the time, poorer nations are at a disadvantage. Great Britain's 15 medals in 1996 kickstarted the country into a concerted National Lottery funding programme for Olympic sports that resulted in 65 medals per games for 2012 through 2024. For the Paris games, National Lottery was £246 million for Olympic sport development (cycling £29 million, rowing £24 million, athletics £23 million etc. with even BMX, surfing, sport climbing, skateboarding benefitting) and £70 million for performance awards. Shed a tear for our silver medallist, Jo-Ané van Dyk who, according to reports, received zilch support from Athletics SA.
Be that as it may, Paris 2024 set new standards in its sheer joie de vivre and bringing the city of light to the people.
Brilliant analysis. NZ with 20 medals for a 5 million population was a star performer. Other factors to consider:
Paris Olympics is the first games to achieve full gender parity. In 1924 women made up only 4,4% of participants. Countries will differ, but equitable gender participation seems to be essential for a top overall performance. Could this be a factor in India's (population 1,5 billion) underperformance with only 5 medals?
Rich countries can fund sports with high barriers to participation - rowing, canoeing, sailing, equestrian etc. - and have the structures and means to pinpoint development and reward programmes. With new sports being added all the time, poorer nations are at a disadvantage. Great Britain's 15 medals in 1996 kickstarted the country into a concerted National Lottery funding programme for Olympic sports that resulted in 65 medals per games for 2012 through 2024. For the Paris games, National Lottery was £246 million for Olympic sport development (cycling £29 million, rowing £24 million, athletics £23 million etc. with even BMX, surfing, sport climbing, skateboarding benefitting) and £70 million for performance awards. Shed a tear for our silver medallist, Jo-Ané van Dyk who, according to reports, received zilch support from Athletics SA.
Be that as it may, Paris 2024 set new standards in its sheer joie de vivre and bringing the city of light to the people.