Shifting The Goalposts

Though it has been found that prosperous nations tend to perform better in the games, india can improve its own score once new government schemes kick in.

- Bharat Hiteshi

Is there a correlation between prosperity and performance at the Olympics? Yes, if the medals won by the athletes and the countries they belong to is any indication. A look reveals that of the Top 10 nations had taken most gold medals eight of these countries are from the West. It is not a coincident that they are among the world’s top economic powers. The two Asian countries in the Top 10 are China and Japan, both economic superpowers. In the 11-20 rank, we have Europeans such as Hungary, Spain, Brazil, Croatia, New Zealand and Canada, Jamaica, Brazil and Kenya.

There is another reason — or you may call it correlation. Strong economies have better sports science research which makes a big difference between a bronze and the fourth place as the margins for error become tighter and tighter.

Strong economies, better performance

Strong economies provide better food for their citizens. The citizens of US, the top gold winner on the Rio table, are among the top calorie consumers in the world. In comparison, India’s daily per capita calorie consumption stands at 2,360 which is much lower than the European, Asian and some African countries. To India’s 2,360 calories consumed per capita per day, Nigeria’s number is 2710, Indonesia’s 2,550, Jamaica’s 2,840, Iran’s 3,050, Morocco’s 3,260, and Kazakhstan’s 3,510. It has been medically proved that good energy intake leads to a fitter, stronger population. Genetics is a big factor too: Europeans are physically bigger and stronger.