Is 1 gold better than 100 of slivers and bonzes. It can't be.  So there are suggestions that new system of medals tabling to be done.  Or else US will continue its weird system of rating by putting total number to prove it is greatest. IOC  has its own system  with more gold on top which cannot be surely called a complete fair.

Now new system  has been proposed which says,   


                                        A GOLD MEDAL =3 points
                                       A silver medal = 2 points   and
                                       A bronze  =  1 point


So a new revised table will be, China still number one because of greater gold medals even though points are similar to US

Country               G              S                 B           total points
China                  47             17               26            201
US                       31            36               36            201
Russia                  18            18               23            113

Do you think it is fairer representation ?

Absolutely!

The fact that China is leaping ahead (at Olympics and elsewhere) does not need all these explanation. People in the US are just behaving human: taking pride in what they have!

I liked your analysis.

RangeenChara

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7576446.stm

Its more fair than saying  a country winning 1 gold is better than those lot more silver and bronze.

I just saw the BBC analysis of the medal and points. Its very very fair.