147 replies to this topic

[BorderReiver]

Hey Everyone

This afternoon I began to wonder what percentage of people from certain countries became World Champions. I decided to look into it, and obviously all the fractions are ridiculously small. So I have expressed the results in a more user-friendly way, for both the amounts of World Champions produced, and the amount of titles they won. Some of the results are quite surprising.

Incidentally the population figures are to the nearest million, and correct as of 2002.

Here are the national stats in the order that the nations took their first titles. Below that are league tables of each category. It would be really interesting to do something like this for Grand Prix Wins per person per nation, but that would be a mammoth task. . .

Anyway, here you are. What do you think?

Population of Italy = 58,000,000
1 World Champion Driver per 29,000,000 Italians
1 World Championship Title per 19,333,333 Italians

Population of Argentina = 38,000,000
1 World Champion Driver per 38,000,000 Argentinians
1 World Championship Title per 7,600,000 Argentinians

Population of England = 49,000,000
1 World Champion Driver per 8,166,667 English
1 World Championship Title per 7,000,000 English

Population of Australia = 20,000,000
1 World Champion Driver per 10,000,000 Australians
1 World Championship Title per 5,000,000 Australians

Population of the USA = 281,000,000
1 World Champion Driver per 140,500,000 Americans
1 World Championship Title per 140,500,000 Americans

Population of Scotland = 5,000,000
1 World Champion Driver per 2,500,000 Scots
1 World Championship Title per 1,000,000 Scots

Population of New Zealand = 4,000,000
1 World Champion Driver per 4,000,000 New Zealanders
1 World Championship Title per 4,000,000 New Zealanders

Population of Austria = 8,000,000
1 World Champion Driver per 4,000,000 Austrians
1 World Championship Title per 2,000,000 Austrians

Population of Brazil = 176,000,000
1 World Champion Driver per 58,666,667 Brazillians
1 World Championship Title per 22,000,000 Brazillians

Population of Finland = 5,000,000
1 World Champion Driver per 2,500,000 Finns
1 World Championship Title per 1,666,667 Finns

Population of France = 60,000,000
1 World Champion Driver per 60,000,000 French
1 World Championship Title per 15,000,000 French

Population of Germany = 83,000,000
1 World Champion Driver per 83,000,000 Germans
1 World Championship Title per 16,600,000 Germans

Population of Canada = 32,000,000
1 World Champion Driver per 32,000,000 Canadians
1 World Championship Title per 32,000,000 Canadians

National World Champions Per Person Table:-

1.Finland = Scotland

3.Austria = New Zealand

5.England

6.Australia

7.Italy

8.Canada

9.Argentina

10.Brazil

11.France

12.Germany

13.United States

National World Titles Per Person Table:-

1.Scotland

2.Finland

3.Austria

4.New Zealand

5.Australia

6.England

7.Argentina

8.France

9.Germany

10.Italy

11.Brazil

12.Canada

13.United States

So there you have it. One of the great mysteries of motorsport. How come Scotland and Finland, two tiny countries in terms of man-power have produced so many World Champions in relation to their population? And how have other nations produced so few? There must be reasons for this, what are your opinions?

[Ross Stonefeld]

Well for starters arguably 120 of say the top 150 American drivers are all in NASCAR Cup, NASCAR Busch, or NASCAR Truck divisions. Try naming 120 British drivers racing in 2003 for instance.

[BorderReiver]

Originally posted by Ross Stonefeld
Well for starters arguably 120 of say the top 150 American drivers are all in NASCAR Cup, NASCAR Busch, or NASCAR Truck divisions. Try naming 120 British drivers racing in 2003 for instance.

If I had the rosters for the world, european, national ,and club level series in this country I could do it easily ;) .

I know of one straight off, he's sat in my chair right now.

However there is something in what you say Ross. Would you agree that American drivers prioritise other series above the World Championship?

[SpeakerGuru]

American drivers prioritize the series which will get them P-A-I-D. Sponsorship money is in NASCAR - that's where you'll find the American drivers.

[BorderReiver]

Originally posted by SpeakerGuru
American drivers prioritize the series which will get them P-A-I-D. Sponsorship money is in NASCAR - that's where you'll find the American drivers.

It still doesn't answer why two countries, with a combined population less than 1/25th of that of the US has produced so many World Champion drivers.

It is genuinly puzzling. What factors could possibly cause this? It really is mighty wierd. As far as I can tell the racing infrastructure of both of these countries isn't nerely as developed as that of say England, where most of the top racing cars and chassis in the world are produced, or the US, the country with probably the most high profile national series.

What exactly is the X factor?

[Ross Stonefeld]

Yeah thats the problem. Why try to collect 1mil for an F3000 season on a 20 car grid when you can race trucks against 35 other guys, make a mil in prize money, and probably move up on talent; not tomention all i na form of racing you were brought up on.

If you break it down, id argue the US probably has more 'professional' drivers than any other country.

[BorderReiver]

Originally posted by Ross Stonefeld
Yeah thats the problem. Why try to collect 1mil for an F3000 season on a 20 car grid when you can race trucks against 35 other guys, make a mil in prize money, and probably move up on talent; not tomention all i na form of racing you were brought up on.

If you break it down, id argue the US probably has more 'professional' drivers than any other country.

I'd go so far to say that the USA definately has the numerically the most professional race drivers. However is this really surprising for such a large country with so many internal series?

[Ross Stonefeld]

Exactly. We have the combined population of Italy France Germany and the UK, the major 4 European racing countries. Problem is we have our own stuff to do so have no need or chance of running up against you guys.

Which is probably best. So far races this season have been won by a Scot, a German, a Colombian, and a Finn. If we didnt have oval racing it could very well have been 3 Americans and a German just based on the %s

[wawawa]

Originally posted by Ross Stonefeld
So far races this season have been won by a Scot, a German, a Colombian, and a Finn.

And an Italian. Or, as BBC would say, a Roman;)

[hedges]

Well lets face it, it is just because those countries have so few people that one person winning is statistaclly more significant and if they were lucky enough to get two, forget about it, no way any other country is going to compete.

The United States for instance could win 70 WDCs and still not beat NZ in this table.

[JForce]

NEW ZEALAND KICKS ASS

[Lateralus42]

Bow down to Scotland.

[BuonoBruttoCattivo]

Originally posted by wawawa
And an Italian. Or, as BBC would say, a Roman;)

Good guy wawawa, good guy.

Here is a sample of some famous Romans:

[Foxbat]

Minor point, but if Scotland gets to be counted as a country why not the individual states as well?

[Dsilence]

Just check world rally series, Finland has been dominating there for decades

Finnish drivers marked blue

WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONS
2002 Marcus GRONHOLM (Peugeot) Peugeot World Ch. (drivers & manufacturers)
2001 Richard BURNS (Subaru) Peugeot World Ch. (drivers & manufacturers)
2000 Marcus GRONHOLM (Peugeot) Peugeot World Ch. (drivers & manufacturers)
1999 Tommi MAKINEN (Mitsubishi) Toyota World Ch. (drivers & manufacturers)
1998 Tommi MAKINEN (Mitsubishi) Mitsubishi World Ch. (drivers & manufacturers)
1997 Tommi MAKINEN (Mitsubishi) Subaru World Ch. (drivers & manufacturers)
1996 Tommi MAKINEN (Mitsubishi) Subaru World Ch. (drivers & manufacturers)
1995 Colin McRAE (Subaru) Subaru World Ch. (drivers & manufacturers)
1994 Didier AURIOL (Toyota) Toyota World Ch. (drivers & manufacturers)
1993 Juha KANKKUNEN (Toyota) Toyota World Ch. (drivers & manufacturers)
1992 Carlos SAINZ (Toyota) Lancia World Ch. (drivers & manufacturers)
1991 Juha KANKKUNEN (Lancia) Lancia World Ch. (drivers & manufacturers)
1990 Carlos SAINZ (Toyota) Lancia World Ch. (drivers & manufacturers)
1989 Massimo BIASION (Lancia) Lancia World Ch. (drivers & manufacturers)
1988 Massimo BIASION (Lancia) Lancia World Ch. (drivers & manufacturers)
1987 Juha KANKKUNEN (Lancia) Lancia World Ch. (drivers & manufacturers)
1986 Juha KANKKUNEN (Peugeot) Peugeot (Gr. B) World Ch. (drivers & manufacturers)
1985 Timo SALONEN (Peugeot) Peugeot (Gr. B) World Ch. (drivers & manufacturers)
1984 Stig BLOMQVIST (Audi) Audi (Gr. B) World Ch. (drivers & manufacturers)
1983 Hanu MIKKOLA (Audi) Lancia (Gr. B) World Ch. (drivers & manufacturers)
1982 Walter ROHRL (Opel) Audi World Ch. (drivers & manufacturers)
1981 Ari VATANEN (Ford) Talbot World Ch. (drivers & manufacturers)
1980 Walter ROHRL (Fiat) Fiat World Ch. (drivers & manufacturers)
1979 Bjorn WALDEGAARD (Ford/Mercedes-Benz) Ford World Ch. (drivers & manufacturers)
1978 Markku ALEN (Fiat & Lancia) Fiat FIA Cup (drivers) & World Ch. (manufacturers)
1977 Sandro MUNARI (Lancia) Fiat FIA Cup (drivers) & World Ch. (manufacturers)

THAT's DOMINATING!

[petri]

Originally posted by BorderReiver
1.Scotland

2.Finland

This will be changed pretty soon...

[Oho]

Originally posted by BorderReiver


It still doesn't answer why two countries, with a combined population less than 1/25th of that of the US has produced so many World Champion drivers.

It is genuinly puzzling. What factors could possibly cause this? It really is mighty wierd. As far as I can tell the racing infrastructure of both of these countries isn't nerely as developed as that of say England, where most of the top racing cars and chassis in the world are produced, or the US, the country with probably the most high profile national series.

What exactly is the X factor?

Ave !!!

Variance.

- Oho -

[Oho]

Ave !!!

Well rallying has thus far been Finns vs the world. Wonder who, if anyone can pick the batton from Grönholm, somehow I cant see Finnish dominance carrying on uninterrupted.

- Oho -

[KenC]

Originally posted by BorderReiver
Hey Everyone

This afternoon I began to wonder what percentage of people from certain countries became World Champions. I decided to look into it, and obviously all the fractions are ridiculously small. So I have expressed the results in a more user-friendly way, for both the amounts of World Champions produced, and the amount of titles they won. Some of the results are quite surprising.

Incidentally the population figures are to the nearest million, and correct as of 2002.

Here are the national stats in the order that the nations took their first titles. Below that are league tables of each category. It would be really interesting to do something like this for Grand Prix Wins per person per nation, but that would be a mammoth task. . .

Anyway, here you are. What do you think?

Since you asked, I think the answer is NO "great myster"y. It's something along the lines of "the fallacy of small numbers". Adding one WDC to any of the countries listed will change their ratio significantly, because there haven't been more than a couple WDCs in any one country, except for Brazil and England. Also, while a country may have a large population, it hardly indicates how many of that population is actually trying to get into F1 and win a WDC. If you ask those 281million Americans if they are trying to become WDCs, I'd imagine the number that answer yes, is infinitesimally small relative to, if you ask the same question to the 176 million Brazilians.

Statistics are dangerous in the wrong hands.

[B. Dover]

Somebody should count all the official FIA Worldchampionships (F1+Rally) by nationality...

[Oho]

Originally posted by KenC

Statistics are dangerous in the wrong hands.

Ave !!

BorderReiver worked with population, not sample, hence the perils of statistical analysis are of no importance as long as one does not use his results to predict, in that sence my notion of variance, which is in single word what you wrote is inherently invalid. Now the reasons behind dissproportionate success of Finns and Scots may vary, but the observation is valid and not a statistical anomaly. The obervations are not random, the parameters we estimate from the observation are, then again I am an advocate of Bayesian probability interpretation.

- Oho -

[sanat]

statistics is like a bikini:
what it reveals is suggestive
what it conceals is vital.

[Garagiste]

How did I guess that you'd count the Scots separately?
I imaginge that an abundance of challenging roads with low traffic and grip levels might contribute to Scotland and Finland's position. Of course there are countries that have these and no WDCs, but it must help a bit.

[Pilla]

Originally posted by JForce
NEW ZEALAND KICKS ASS

Our last world champion was a while ago, about time we get another dont you think?

[tintin]

Given that England and Scotland are not counted as separate nations by the FIA, they shouldn't be counted separately in these stats.

[BorderReiver]

Originally posted by tintin
Given that England and Scotland are not counted as separate nations by the FIA, they shouldn't be counted separately in these stats.

Quite the contrary. They are counted as separate nations, which indeed they are (anyone who thinks the UK is constitutionally like the US and their states sytem is kidding themselves, when did you last see a king of florida?). Scotland and England are their own separate sovereign nations, each with their own parliaments, and have in history had their own royalty systems and constitutions. The UK is exactly what it says on the tin, an economic and power sharing union.

If you want to see proof of the FIA's stance please watch the WRC, the distinction there is quite evident.

[Ross Stonefeld]

Coulthard and Button will have the same anthem upon winning a race. That says it all actually

[tintin]

Originally posted by BorderReiver


Quite the contrary. They are counted as separate nations, which indeed they are (anyone who thinks the UK is constitutionally like the US and their states sytem is kidding themselves, when did you last see a king of florida?). Scotland and England are their own separate sovereign nations, each with their own parliaments, and have in history had their own royalty systems and constitutions. The UK is exactly what it says on the tin, an economic and power sharing union.

Except in both England and Scotland racing licences are issued by the same body, the MSA. Anyone from either country races under the British flag, and has GBR after their name in an F1 entry list, or indeed any other FIA series, including rallying.

England and Scotland have not had separate Royal families for 500 years - well before the F1 World Championship began. Neither country has a constitution.

They share a government and monetary system because they are nations within a single country.

[Andrew Murphy]

Originally posted by Ross Stonefeld
Coulthard and Button will have the same anthem upon winning a race. That says it all actually

Bullshit!


Drew

[Skouse]

Please don't insult Scots by suggesting that just because the FIA does not play "Flower of Scotland" that she is not a sovereign nation. Anyone who suggests this is either drunk or completely ignorant. Actually, I can't believe what I've read in this thread. It really shows how some people have no idea.

[Foxbat]

There is another rich vein of F1 prowess: Northern Ireland. It is often overlooked because they do not have any WDCs, but it ranks very, very high in racewins per capita.... Go Ulster!

[BorderReiver]

Originally posted by tintin


Except in both England and Scotland racing licences are issued by the same body, the MSA. Anyone from either country races under the British flag, and has GBR after their name in an F1 entry list, or indeed any other FIA series, including rallying.

England and Scotland have not had separate Royal families for 500 years - well before the F1 World Championship began. Neither country has a constitution.

They share a government and monetary system because they are nations within a single country.

Please don't presume to lecture me on the history of my own country, or on who hands out racing licenses.

It is true that neither we, nor England have a contstitution written down on paper, what we do have is a system of government and society established on precendent. This is something that effectivly alters with the times, legal rulings and developments in international and domestic affairs. Effectivly there are ammendments being made constanly, however it is left to the judiciary and fiscal representatives to work out the practicalities of these amendments.

How exactly can you have nations within a country? The United Kindgdom (Great Britain being a remarkably out-dated term), is exactly what it sounds. Perhaps it should be Kingdoms? Would that make it easier for you to understand.

Thankyou for pointing out that there hasn't been a separate Monarch of Scotland and England since 1603, (actually 400 years, not 500 as you claim) and James VI's succession to the throne of England to become their James I. However what has remained separate are our legal and education structures, our sports teams (except those at the Olympics), and our cultures, dialects etc.

Two parts of one union, yes, but two separate countries, with different parliaments, systems of government and identities. If you walked into a bar in Glasgow proclaiming that the two nations are one and the same I can guarentee you wouldn't walk out again.

[tintin]

Originally posted by Foxbat
There is another rich vein of F1 prowess: Northern Ireland. It is often overlooked because they do not have any WDCs, but it ranks very, very high in racewins per capita.... Go Ulster!

Now Northern Ireland is interesting because although it is part of the UK, it is not part of Britain.
However both Irvine and Firman (and Richard Lyons, Colin Turkington and Alan Morrison if you look outside of F1) race under the British flag...presumably because that is where their licences were issued.

[BorderReiver]

Oh and by the way, our money is different from English money, and is issued from our own bank.

But anyways, we digress, the real question is why small countries like Finland and Scotland have produced comparitvly so many champions.

Garagesite has made an interesting point about the roads, and I think there may be something in that. If you want to go somewhere you can really DRRRIIIIVEEEEE without any problems head for lowland Scotland.

[BorderReiver]

Originally posted by tintin


Now Northern Ireland is interesting because although it is part of the UK, it is not part of Britain.
However both Irvine and Firman (and Richard Lyons, Colin Turkington and Alan Morrison if you look outside of F1) race under the British flag...presumably because that is where their licences were issued.

Britain, is not a country Tintin, it is and Island, nothing more.

[Bjorn]

Wouldn't you need to count everyone who's lived and died in those countries from 1950-2002? Furthermore, does this imply that Fangio was a better champion in 1951 than in 1956 because the population of Argentina had gone up by a bit in those years, making him somehow less unique? Just wondering what this is supposed to prove....

[BorderReiver]

Originally Bjorn it was just a study to see which nations produced the most WDC's per person, but it has mutated, as everything does ;) .

As for argentina between 51 and 56 I doubt that the population varied so much as to make a significant impact on the results.

For the last century population figures in the developed world have been staticish.

[tintin]

Originally posted by BorderReiver


Britain, is not a country Tintin, it is and Island, nothing more.

Great Britain is a country. The one where I was born. The one where I live. It says British on my passport, not Scottish. It is the country that represents me at the Olympics, in Motorsport, Tennis, Rugby League. It has an army, navy and air force. A royal family and a national anthem.

The United Kingdom is a different entity - a political invention. It represents where I live at the United Nations and in the Eurovision Song Contest. And that's about all.

But enough of that, because we're way off topic here.

Button, Coulthard, Wilson, Firman and McNish are British drivers. They may also be English, Irish or Scottish, but they enter the championship as British, and the FIA records them as such.

Silverstone hosts the British Grand Prix.
There isn't a Scottish Grand Prix (though the thought of F1 cars around Ingliston is quite exciting).

[BorderReiver]

Originally posted by tintin


Great Britain is a country. The one where I was born. The one where I live. It says British on my passport, not Scottish. It is the country that represents me at the Olympics, in Motorsport, Tennis, Rugby League. It has an army, navy and air force. A royal family and a national anthem.

The United Kingdom is a different entity - a political invention. It represents where I live at the United Nations and in the Eurovision Song Contest. And that's about all.

But enough of that, because we're way off topic here.

Button, Coulthard, Wilson, Firman and McNish are British drivers. They may also be English, Irish or Scottish, but they enter the championship as British, and the FIA records them as such.

Silverstone hosts the British Grand Prix.
There isn't a Scottish Grand Prix (though the thought of F1 cars around Ingliston is quite exciting).

Sorry to disagree with you again, but your wrong.

Great Britain is an outdated Imperial term, being British means being part of the United Kingdom, the name Britain is the name of the largest Island in the Union. It comes form the original inhabitants the Britons.

Let me guess, you don't like the idea of devolution right?

[holiday]

Originally posted by BorderReiver
Thankyou for pointing out that there hasn't been a separate Monarch of Scotland and England since 1603, (actually 400 years, not 500 as you claim) and James VI's succession to the throne of England to become their James I.

More significant in this context would be 1707: Union of Scotland and England = Great Britain.

[holiday]

Originally posted by Bjorn
Wouldn't you need to count everyone who's lived and died in those countries from 1950-2002? Furthermore, does this imply that Fangio was a better champion in 1951 than in 1956 because the population of Argentina had gone up by a bit in those years, making him somehow less unique? Just wondering what this is supposed to prove....

Not too much, but not so little as you might think. Whatever the conclusions from such statistics, its already a BIG plus to make people acquainted with these numbers. Many people dont have a clue about the exact geographical location of, say, Finland and Scotland, and the ignorance is sometimes overwhelming, especially on the other side of the Atlantic Sea.

[mikedeering]

Originally posted by tintin

Button, Coulthard, Wilson, Firman and McNish are British drivers. They may also be English, Irish or Scottish, but they enter the championship as British, and the FIA records them as such.

While the official FIA entry for 2003 lists Button, Coulthard and Wilson as GBR, Firman is IRL.

[Aubwi]

Interesting, but I'd like to see WC points per capita. There's too few world champions to get believable numbers this way.

[d_view7]

Originally posted by Dsilence
Just check world rally series, Finland has been dominating there for decades

Finnish drivers marked blue

WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONS
2002 Marcus GRONHOLM (Peugeot) Peugeot World Ch. (drivers & manufacturers)
2001 Richard BURNS (Subaru) Peugeot World Ch. (drivers & manufacturers)
2000 Marcus GRONHOLM (Peugeot) Peugeot World Ch. (drivers & manufacturers)
1999 Tommi MAKINEN (Mitsubishi) Toyota World Ch. (drivers & manufacturers)
1998 Tommi MAKINEN (Mitsubishi) Mitsubishi World Ch. (drivers & manufacturers)
1997 Tommi MAKINEN (Mitsubishi) Subaru World Ch. (drivers & manufacturers)
1996 Tommi MAKINEN (Mitsubishi) Subaru World Ch. (drivers & manufacturers)
1995 Colin McRAE (Subaru) Subaru World Ch. (drivers & manufacturers)
1994 Didier AURIOL (Toyota) Toyota World Ch. (drivers & manufacturers)
1993 Juha KANKKUNEN (Toyota) Toyota World Ch. (drivers & manufacturers)
1992 Carlos SAINZ (Toyota) Lancia World Ch. (drivers & manufacturers)
1991 Juha KANKKUNEN (Lancia) Lancia World Ch. (drivers & manufacturers)
1990 Carlos SAINZ (Toyota) Lancia World Ch. (drivers & manufacturers)
1989 Massimo BIASION (Lancia) Lancia World Ch. (drivers & manufacturers)
1988 Massimo BIASION (Lancia) Lancia World Ch. (drivers & manufacturers)
1987 Juha KANKKUNEN (Lancia) Lancia World Ch. (drivers & manufacturers)
1986 Juha KANKKUNEN (Peugeot) Peugeot (Gr. B) World Ch. (drivers & manufacturers)
1985 Timo SALONEN (Peugeot) Peugeot (Gr. B) World Ch. (drivers & manufacturers)
1984 Stig BLOMQVIST (Audi) Audi (Gr. B) World Ch. (drivers & manufacturers)
1983 Hanu MIKKOLA (Audi) Lancia (Gr. B) World Ch. (drivers & manufacturers)
1982 Walter ROHRL (Opel) Audi World Ch. (drivers & manufacturers)
1981 Ari VATANEN (Ford) Talbot World Ch. (drivers & manufacturers)
1980 Walter ROHRL (Fiat) Fiat World Ch. (drivers & manufacturers)
1979 Bjorn WALDEGAARD (Ford/Mercedes-Benz) Ford World Ch. (drivers & manufacturers)
1978 Markku ALEN (Fiat & Lancia) Fiat FIA Cup (drivers) & World Ch. (manufacturers)
1977 Sandro MUNARI (Lancia) Fiat FIA Cup (drivers) & World Ch. (manufacturers)

THAT's DOMINATING!

That indeed is dominating.

[ERD1]

Christ. We have got sidetracked. I accept that the Scottish are an entity whatever the politics and thanks BorderReiver for working out the numbers. The result, with Finland and Scotland ahead, is as I suspected.

With respect to the question asked I support Garageiste's comment ref challenging roads and will add 'slippery weather conditions'. Northern Ireland goes with Scotland in this respect. All these are places where you can have a flat out blind practically every time you start your car and, within my experience, with respect to Scotland at least, cannot shake off some young guy driving something like a 1 litre engined old rusty plumber's van while doing so.

Incidentally, I worked out similar per capita figures for the last Olympics. Jamaica won. Australia, where it was hosted, was way up (a trend of host nations doing well that begs questions with respect to publicity of particular sports in particular countries but then the US did well in the last Soccer World Cup despite abysmal publicity). Worst of large nations was India. Combining Summer and Winter Olympics numbers yielded Norway as #1. I wonder if the few people of Norway know that.

[BorderReiver]

Originally posted by ERD1
Christ. We have got sidetracked. I accept that the Scottish are an entity whatever the politics and thanks BorderReiver for working out the numbers. The result, with Finland and Scotland ahead, is as I suspected.

With respect to the question asked I support Garageiste's comment ref challenging roads and will add 'slippery weather conditions'. Northern Ireland goes with Scotland in this respect. All these are places where you can have a flat out blind practically every time you start your car and, within my experience, with respect to Scotland at least, cannot shake off some young guy driving something like a 1 litre engined old rusty plumber's van while doing so.

Incidentally, I worked out similar per capita figures for the last Olympics. Jamaica won. Australia, where it was hosted, was way up (a trend of host nations doing well that begs questions with respect to publicity of particular sports in particular countries but then the US did well in the last Soccer World Cup despite abysmal publicity). Worst of large nations was India. Combining Summer and Winter Olympics numbers yielded Norway as #1. I wonder if the few people of Norway know that.

Northern Ireland actually has a proud rallying tradition, curiouser and curiouser. . . .

[Melbourne Park]

You've left out also the Bikes ... Aussies have done well in Super bikes and the top GP bikes ... Doohan and Gardner won a heap of titles ... this sort of thing reminds me of the "World Series" baseball, where just North America competes ... it might also be interesting to total up all sports as well. The Olympic games is the ultimate sporting arena, but somehow I don't think they'll invite F1 cars to the games. Not even slot cars I suspect ...

[BorderReiver]

Originally posted by Melbourne Park
You've left out also the Bikes ... Aussies have done well in Super bikes and the top GP bikes ... Doohan and Gardner won a heap of titles ... this sort of thing reminds me of the "World Series" baseball, where just North America competes ... it might also be interesting to total up all sports as well. The Olympic games is the ultimate sporting arena, but somehow I don't think they'll invite F1 cars to the games. Not even slot cars I suspect ...

OLYMPIC SCALEXTRIX!

JUST THINK OF IT!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sign me up, I'll win a gold medal yet. . . .

[holiday]

Originally posted by ERD1
Incidentally, I worked out similar per capita figures for the last Olympics. Jamaica won.

jamaica rulezzz

I remember the Cayman Islands having the best per capita figures at the Coca Cola games 96 or Barcelona 92. They had one swimmer with a silver medal, if I am not mistaken.

[kismet]

Suriname probably did quite well per capita with swimmer Anthony Nesty (Seoul '88).