Olympics 2008

The Beijing Olympics coincided with my trip to India this year( 8-26th August 2008). It is said to be greatest and most successful Olympics ever held. I followed it very keenly over the 2 weeks when I was in India. There were a lot of expected and unexpected results. The expected being China emerging at the top of the medal table with 100 medals( 51-21-28), overtaking USA as the major super power in world sports. US came second with 36-38-36 and the only consolation for them being that they got more medals than China in total(110). The 51 gold medals by China is said to be the second largest haul by a national team in a modern, non-boycotted Summer Games.

Now about the unexpected results. The main being India getting an Individual Gold; the first time it has managed to win an Individual Gold medal in the history of Modern Olympics. India received 3 times the medals I thought it would get ie 2 more bronze medals. It finished a 'credible' 50th place in the medal tally of the 87 countries that managed to get into the table.( I believe 204 countries competed for 302 medals in 28 sports).

I still remember the text I received from Anju saying that India won the gold in Shooting when I was at the passport office in Trivandrum. Both Achan and I were elated and it was a moment to cherish and to be proud of.

The Olympic medal holders will be showered with praises and prizes for the next few months. But after sometime everything will settle down. It will be interesting to ask these individual medal holders how much help and support did they get from their respective associations and states before they went to Beijing. It will also be interesing to see how many associations/coaches will be having a 'vision' or atleast thinking about the 2012 Olympics. A lot of interesting issues..ahh...

The next unexpected result was the performance of Great Britain (not totally unexpected). It finished with a total of 47 medals (19-13-15) in fourth position behind the old super power Russia( 23-21-28). Very impressive indeed. As the host for the next Olympics, Britain had been planning and preparing well and they competed in less spectacular events like Cycling, Rowing, Sailing etc.

I was always of the opinion that, as its very competitive in Aquatics(46) and Athletics (47) that have the most number of medals, it is better to concentrate and try the less popular events like Rowing(14 ), Sailing(11), Canoeing(16), Cycling(18), Taekwondo(8), Fencing(10), Judo(14) etc

After all an Olympic medal is an Olympic medal, doesn't matter which event you got it.

I hope the authorities in India will start planning for the London Olympics (2012) from now and hope that they can at least double what they got in China.....