Do China have an unfair advantage?

Ian J

It's interesting that whilst some nations throw money and facilities into training sportsmen it's the poorer nations that come up with the global superstars in the events that really fire the imagination of the public as the Jamaicans, Kenyans and Ethiopians will testify

Kevo

And Michael Phelps has a lot more events to win medals in... Is that fair?

Dony

In the context of swimming events yes it is. All the other swimmers have the same opportunities to win medals at various distances, not just Phelps.

Steven

Depends who is the judge. When hundreds of millions of Chinese are poorer than the disadvantaged in rich western nations, who is to say which sacrifices they cannot make? No it is hardly perfect. But the it is not a perfect world. It is equally unfair to even suggest only pampered kids in perfect training schools should be allowed to compete.

IL Cattivo

For the size of our Island/s and population compared to other countries participating I think we're doing outstandingly well. Credit where it's due if you ask me.....

Mshulla

What is clearly unfair is having sports in the olympics that only a tiny percentage of the world population take part in. Such as equestrian and sailing.
Not saying they're not genuine sports but surely not right to have in the olympics.
Just weighs the medal table in favour of those countries that do have teams.
Then you have rowing, canoeing, kayaking again tiny numbers participate in these sports.
We might as well put American football or baseball in the olympics

Steven

Golf and Rugby 7's has been added for Rio 2016

simon ess

Rugby 7s?

That does surprise me.

Trollslayer

China has over twenty times our population but only double the number of medals so we are doing about ten times as well per capita.
So what is our unfair advantage?

nabby

It's so the Aussies have a chance of winning more than one gold medal