Measuring The Same Thing Two Ways

Interesting observation as I was travelling through the USA and watching Olympic coverage.

Canada counts good medals as the ultimate qualifier (odd considering their demeanor) for medal standings. Most gold medals is first, if tied use silver as a tie breaker and then bronze as the “rubber match”.

A country with just 15 gold medals is better than a country with 14 gold, 10 silver, 4 bronze.

USA evaluates by number of total medals. Each is worth the same. If you have 40 bronze you are better than a country with 39 gold.

Guess which country had the most of what last Olympics in Vancouver.

They should talk it out and come to a fair compromise – 3 points for a gold, 2 points for a silver, 1 for a bronze. I’m sure whoever would “win” under that setup would agree to that!

Neither will and the debate continues. Canada will claim whoever has the most gold medals  is the Country who won the Olympics and the USA will claim most medals is. That will probably stay the same unless the USA gets the most gold medals (they have used this argument in Summer Olympics) or Canada actually becomes a sporting dominance outside of hockey.

Information is only useful when used properly. That “properly” is hard to define. How about “when used without prejudice or dishonest intent without personal or representative regard”

Think also – anytime a politician uses data/stats.

(hopefully I get to play video games again so my thoughts can stay more focused)

2 comments / Add your comment below

  1. I’m not following the Winter Olympics but as far as I recall the UK has always used Gold medals as the marker for placing on the overall table of which country did best. I’m quite surprised the US uses an aggregate score. Do they also use that for the Summer games?

    If you were going to use a points system I really don’t think G=3, S=2. B=1 would fly. Possibly G=6, S=3, B=1? I doubt there’s a country on earth where three bronze medals are equal in national prestige to one Gold.

  2. I like your aggregate scoring system. Either way it is a pretty silly disagreement – but I love systems and if you don’t spell it out, people will do what is inherently best for them =) The debate should be open instead and standards set.

    The Olympics have been fun to watch – truth of the matter is that I think too much is put on the Olympics every four years for sports that are mostly ignored in the sporting world for 3+ months leading up to the Olympics. The best in the world for 3 years, 11.5 months makes one mistake in their Olympic event and is considered a “disappointment”

    Anyway, not going to turn this blog into sports (although I will squeeze in sports references when I can – I do love them!)

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