Olympic Medal Count Map
August 19th, 2008
I just found this fascinating link from the New York Times. I don’t read the NYT but I couldn’t resist sharing this. To think, in 1980, the US had 0 medals. And do you know why? I just learned recently that we didn’t attend the 1980 Olympic Games. Do you know why? You get a prize if you can guess.
Most other years we’ve either led in the medal count or been in the top 3.
Even more astonishing is the amount of political history you can see each four years. The names of some of the countries have changed but the people have not… And of course, the gap in the Games during the World Wars.
What else am I missing? I wish there was a chart listing “amount of sleep lost by the American Public while watching the 2008 Olympic Games”. Or “Michael Phelps-mania”.
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3 Comments Add your own
1. Suzy Jennings | August 20th, 2008 at 9:42 am
Because it was in the Soviet Union and we boycotted it! What do I get?
2. alicia | August 20th, 2008 at 11:21 am
that is really interesting! not only the geopolitical information, but notice how before the 1950s or so, the hosting country always had a huge dominance in the medal count. my first thought was a bias in the judging, but then i realized that traveling that great of a distance in those days was a HUGE disadvantage for athletes, and most countries couldn’t afford to send very many, if any, to the olympics. so it also depicts the development of the wealthier countries and then later the development of some third-world countries (i.e. Japan) into big players on the world’s stage.
very cool site. i approve.
3. jenna | August 22nd, 2008 at 10:23 pm
Congrats, Suzy! You win a basket of laundry. I usually fold clothes while watching tv, but since the Olympics have been on, I haven’t been able to fold much of anything! Oh, and you win a few lost hours of sleep; I have succumbed to the pressures of watching events I’d never even dream of watching outside the Olympics… Thanks for playing my game.
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