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Five alternative Olympics medals tables Five alternative Olympics medals tables
(4 days later)
The official Olympics medals table is based on the number of gold medals and it puts China top and Great Britain third. But what happens if other factors are taken into account? The most commonly used Olympics medals table is based on the number of gold medals and it puts China top and Great Britain third. But what happens if other factors are taken into account?
Much has been made of the Great Britain team's lofty position in third place in the official Olympics medals table. Much has been made of the Great Britain team's lofty position in third place in the Olympics medals table.
That is based on the number of gold medals, with the number of silver and bronze medals only counting when two countries have the same number of golds. We have won one gold medal in the last 48 hours and our six-gold advantage has almost disappeared entirely BBC's Matt Slater Official medals tableOlympics blog: Battle for thirdThat is based on the number of gold medals, with the number of silver and bronze medals only counting when two countries have the same number of golds. We have won one gold medal in the last 48 hours and our six-gold advantage has almost disappeared entirely BBC's Matt Slater Official medals tableOlympics blog: Battle for third
This system counts against countries like France which, as of 1000 BST on Friday morning, had enjoyed 32 podium finishes but only a handful of wins.This system counts against countries like France which, as of 1000 BST on Friday morning, had enjoyed 32 podium finishes but only a handful of wins.
Maybe with this in mind, and half an eye on China, media in the US have been publishing a table of total medals won, regardless of colour, and that puts the US top.Maybe with this in mind, and half an eye on China, media in the US have been publishing a table of total medals won, regardless of colour, and that puts the US top.
Here are five alternative ways to interpret how countries rank, taking into account gold, silver and bronze, population size, gross domestic product and size of the Olympic team. The medal tallies were counted at 1000 BST on Friday.Here are five alternative ways to interpret how countries rank, taking into account gold, silver and bronze, population size, gross domestic product and size of the Olympic team. The medal tallies were counted at 1000 BST on Friday.

TOTAL MEDALS WON

TOTAL MEDALS WON

RANK COUNTRY TOTAL 1 United States 100 2 China 83 3 Russia 53 =4 Australia 41 =4 Great Britain 41 =6 France 33 =6 Germany 33 8 South Korea 26 =9 Japan 24 =9 Italy 24RANK COUNTRY TOTAL 1 United States 100 2 China 83 3 Russia 53 =4 Australia 41 =4 Great Britain 41 =6 France 33 =6 Germany 33 8 South Korea 26 =9 Japan 24 =9 Italy 24

POINTS SCORED (THREE FOR GOLD, TWO FOR SILVER, ONE FOR BRONZE)

POINTS SCORED (THREE FOR GOLD, TWO FOR SILVER, ONE FOR BRONZE)

RANK COUNTRY TOTAL 1 China 212 2 United States 190 3 Russia 101 4 Great Britain 89 5 Australia 77 6 Germany 67 =7 France 56 =7 South Korea 56 9 Japan 48 10 Italy 45RANK COUNTRY TOTAL 1 China 212 2 United States 190 3 Russia 101 4 Great Britain 89 5 Australia 77 6 Germany 67 =7 France 56 =7 South Korea 56 9 Japan 48 10 Italy 45

POPULATION PER MEDAL

POPULATION PER MEDAL

RANK COUNTRY TOTAL 1 Bahamas 307,451 2 Jamaica 311,592 3 Slovenia 401,542 4 New Zealand 463,717 5 Australia 502,459 6 Armenia 593,717 7 Belarus 645,717 8 Estonia 653,803 9 Norway 663,499 10 Lithuania 713,041RANK COUNTRY TOTAL 1 Bahamas 307,451 2 Jamaica 311,592 3 Slovenia 401,542 4 New Zealand 463,717 5 Australia 502,459 6 Armenia 593,717 7 Belarus 645,717 8 Estonia 653,803 9 Norway 663,499 10 Lithuania 713,041

GDP - BILLION DOLLARS PER MEDAL

GDP - BILLION DOLLARS PER MEDAL

RANK COUNTRY TOTAL 1 North Korea 0.36 2 Jamaica 0.53 3 Zimbabwe 0.85 4 Armenia 1.28 5 Georgia 1.29 6 Tajikistan 1.40 7 Krygzstan 1.41 8 Mongolia 1.57 9 Togo 2.21 10 Belarus 2.46RANK COUNTRY TOTAL 1 North Korea 0.36 2 Jamaica 0.53 3 Zimbabwe 0.85 4 Armenia 1.28 5 Georgia 1.29 6 Tajikistan 1.40 7 Krygzstan 1.41 8 Mongolia 1.57 9 Togo 2.21 10 Belarus 2.46

NUMBER OF ATHLETES AT GAMES PER MEDAL WON

NUMBER OF ATHLETES AT GAMES PER MEDAL WON

RANK COUNTRY TOTAL 1 Uzbekistan 2 2 Jamaica 2.95 3 Panama 3 3 Togo 3 5 Zimbabwe 3.25 6 Afghanistan 4 7 Indonesia 4.8 8 Georgia 5.83 9 US 5.95 10 Tajikistan 6.5RANK COUNTRY TOTAL 1 Uzbekistan 2 2 Jamaica 2.95 3 Panama 3 3 Togo 3 5 Zimbabwe 3.25 6 Afghanistan 4 7 Indonesia 4.8 8 Georgia 5.83 9 US 5.95 10 Tajikistan 6.5
Sources include the CIA Factbook and the World Bank.Sources include the CIA Factbook and the World Bank.