I don’t wish to flog a dead horse, but I was just having an argument about Canada’s relative lameness at the Summer Olympics. I whipped out my medals-per-millions estimates from the comments thread in my previous post on the subject. In searching for some related data, I found a much more authoritative chart from the always useful NationMaster. These people, incidentally, provide a great one-stop shop for global statistics.
As you’ll see by their chart (and click the map in the middle–it zooms in), Canada is ranked 40th in the world for medals per capita (using a system of three points for a gold, two for a silver and one for a bronze). You’re thinking that that’s not so bad, until you consider that there are only 79 countries ranked, and most of the nations below us are developing nations (Japan and Portugal being the most striking exceptions).
I’ll lay off the dead horse. In truth, I enjoy the Olympics regardless of who’s winning (with the aforementioned exception of the US men’s basketball squad) and I’m always amazed by elite athletes–I break a sweat lifting the remote control. I’m showing my support of amateur athletics by attending tonight’s clash of the titans between Canada and Guatemala in World Cup qualifying soccer. Yes, Guatemala is ranked higher, but it’s hardly news that we’re pretty poor at soccer.
DarrenBarefoot.com 
Not surprising, though, considering that we are really a sedentary nation, what with all the frigging winter we get all over the damned country. Who wants to go train when you’d have to brave freezing winds? Why not just stay home with a beer and watch the game? Seriously 🙂
Sigh. We do appear to be a lethargic nation after all.
Anyone have any idea where I can find a list of athletes who particpated in past Olympic games? I’m particularly interested in 1920/24 ice hockey and 19-teens to 1924 swimming events.
Although this recent Warm Globe heat wave suggests otherwise, I’d still say we’re an Inside Sport nation. How’s our Judo, team going? Karate? We should be *killing* in the indoor sports, even the ones that aren’t marita-uh, martial by nature.
But we’re not, are we? I’m thinking it’s not just an Indoor Sport kinda thing. Guys, we suck this year. Maybe we can pull up our game in 6 years when it’s in our backyard, but, wow, is it dismal.
Thankfully, Canadians are allowed to be concerned with more than ourselves, and so it’s perfectly natural for us to cheer wildly for any team winning any medal and to enjoy the spectacle as mentioned. We’re just nice people. The next resident, though, to say “how ’bout that heat?” is gonna get an un-Canadian punch in his smart mouth.